Page 9 of Rhet

Carson’s shouted voice, saying Trent’s name and the word gay along with it, has me quickening my pace to the ballroom. There is a crowd forming a semi-circle around Trent, Carson, and my dad. I enter through the first arch just in time to see Carson landing a punch to Trent’s face.

Spotting the girl from the library passing by with an empty black tray, I don't think as I take it from her. Coming up behind Carson, I slam the tray across his head. He turns to see who hit him. I drop the tray to the floor and it makes a clanking sound. My fist connects with his nose and from the sound of it, I know it’s broken.

Charlotte screams, begging me to stop.

Carson uppercuts me and my head kicks back causing me to stumble This stupid jacket is restricting. Shrugging it off, I launch myself at Carson, slamming his body onto the marble floor. Rage begins to seep through my numbness.

“Keep my brother’s name out of your mouth,” I scream down at him, sending my fist into his face.

People are tugging at my shoulders, and everything around me slows down. Blood splatters on my face as I continue to whale on Carson.

“Rhet stop.” Trent drags me off Carson.

I stop fighting and allow Trent to pull me away. My legs drag on the ground until Trent lets me go and I stand up right. Charlotte rushes to her father and helps him up. Closing my eyes, I try to calm myself down.

My father rages in the background. There is going to be hell to pay.

“You ok?” I ask as I look at Trent.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” my brother replies, his mouth tightens as he looks around the ballroom.

“I guess dad knows now.” I reply, watching guests leave, some in a hurried fashion, while other speak behind their hands looking at both Trent and I.

Trent sighs and rubs under his chin. “Everybody knows now.”

Grabbing the nape of his neck, I press my forehead to my brother’s. “Look at me.”

Trent’s blue eyes pierces mine

“I’m going to handle this Trent, I promise,” I reply.

Trent nods and pulls away. Mother walks across the ballroom in a rush. She reaches my father and pulls at his sleeves. From the looks of it, she is pleading with him to walk away. Eventually he turns with my mother in tow heading into the family room. His eye clashes with mine, and I know it’s about to go down.

Twenty minutes later, I pull my bow tie off as I sit on the sofa in the family room next to my brother for support. The event was a disaster.

“Gay. There’s no man in the Banner lineage who is or was gay,” dad shouts as he paces the room dragging his hand through his hair

“No, we just have a bunch of bribing murderers, thieves, and cheaters. God forbid anyone is gay,” I reply.

Father smacks me across the face before I can say more. As I’m about to stand, Trent pulls the side of my jacket. Urging me to sit down.

“What’s gotten into you?” Trent mumbles.

Working my jaw, I try to reel my anger in while clenching my fists tightly at my sides. I know I hit a nerve since it’s no secret my father’s mistress is the wife of the same man who embarrassed him tonight, Carson.

“Fucking trying to bring shame on my house on a night like this.” father goes to pour himself a drink from his mini bar.

He stands at six two, with dark brown eyes and dark brown hair with hints of gray at his temple and in his goatee. In his youth, Henry Banner was what men wanted to be and what women wanted. Which to me, makes him a walking narcissist. Everything needs to be always about him, even when we win, it’s about him.

“I’m going to break this down for you, Trent. You’re my first born. Everything about you is supposed to be perfect. Why this?” Father takes a sip of his drink, then grimaces and glares at my brother.

Trent remains silent, his arms folded over his chest. Dad is right, my older brother is perfect. His blond hair is in a fresh low crew cut. Clear glasses add an extra clean touch to him. Where I’m bulky, Trent’s body is lean long muscles. He could be a model if he chose to. Instead, he graduated college and became a college professor.

“You don’t even look gay. Do you like women’s clothing?” father sneers.

Trent doesn’t say a word, refusing to take part in this conversation. Not that I can blame him.

He turns his attention to me. “You let that motherfucker embarrass my name by announcing Trent is gay,” he shouts. I can see the veins popping out of his neck.

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