Since the age of thirteen, Tommy Mendoza has taken boxing lessons at his father's boxing club, the Windy City Gym. Now eighteen-years-old and fresh out of high school, Tommy lands his dream job as a bouncer at the Phoenix, a posh nightclub in downtown Chicago. Tommy meets a unique assortment of people, including fellow bouncer Joe Castillo, the beautiful Iris Martinez, and his future roommate, Benita Valadez. He has his share of adventures and disturbances at the club and in his love life. When his father asks him to fill in for an injured fighter, Tommy jumps at the chance to get back in the boxing ring. But it is a near-tragic car accident that propels his life in a new direction. Following his brush with death, Tommy asks Iris to marry him. When their marriage ends in divorce after only a year, Tommy-heartbroken and searching for a fresh start-travels to Texas to work a construction job. He meets and falls in love with Jessica Gamez and the two marry six months later. Their life is full of difficulties, but a surprise gift enables them to find their happily ever after.