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wasn’t a game. This was real life.
    He was supposed to help his brother and save the family from a huge financial loss. He slugged the punching bag hanging in the corner of his room, and sent it ricocheting. But what about him, damn it?
    Wasn’t he entitled to a life as well?
    Wasn’t he allowed to be happy?
    That’s where the problem started and stalled.
    He couldn’t let it end like this. He grabbed his cell phone and dialed Kat.
    “What do you want?”
    “Geez, I love you too. What’s the matter—is your thong too tight?” He punched the bag again.
    “Look smartass, you called me.”
    “Sorry. I need to talk to you.” He moved and sat on the edge of his bed and ran his fingers through his hair.
    “About—”
    “I thought we straightened this out when you went on the rampage at the club.”
    “Look Trent, the only reason you’re even walking the face of the planet tonight is because you’re helping Travis out. That’s it. You hurt Sabrina and I swear you will die the world’s most painful death.”
    “Are we in the same family? Did you listen to what you said? I’m helping Travis. And you’re yelling at me.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m just pissed. How could Travis think the family wouldn’t be behind him? Why the deception? I just don’t get it.”
    “How the hell do you think I feel?” He laid back on the bed and kicked off his shoes.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I wasn’t sure we’d be able to pull of this caper to start with. It’s been awhile since Travis and I swapped places.”
    “I didn’t catch on until you showed up at the club. Travis doesn’t go to them. It had to be you.”
    “When the family took Travis and me to the airport, we’d already been in our new roles. Mom and Dad bought it.”
    “Probably because Travis was out to save the day and you were off to play.”
    “Yeah, I know, the usual.” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice and didn’t bother to try.
    “We managed a few minutes alone when the folks went to get coffee. Travis admitted how much fun he’d had showing the family what a selfish, self-centered asshole he was as me. And I said I had a perverted sense of joy in acting like an uptight, arrogant prick as him. It was the first time in years Travis and I laughed together.”
    “That’s pathetic.”
    “Don’t blame me. He’s the one who thinks he God’s gift to the family.”
    “You two need to get over this sibling rivalry.”
    “Are you kidding me? You were there when I offered to come run the magazine. Did you not hear Travis say no then proceed to convince the family that he’s the only one who could do it? Only to turn around and decide I was suddenly good enough when he decided to check himself into that clinic. What changed?”
    “He needed you, pure and simple.”
    “What about me?”
    “What about you?”
    “Do you know what it’s like to have your family think you’re not worthy of them? It sucks.”
    “Do something about it.”
    “What do you think I’m doing? And the bitch of it is they’ll never know it was me because I’m too busy covering for Travis the Perfect. So once again I’m screwed.”
    “It’s not that bad and you know it.”
    “Oh really, care to make a wager on it? For your information after Travis’ plane left, Mom asked me to keep my eyes open for an easy job Trent could do. Then Dad chimed in saying anything at all. Grandpa said there had to be something. Only Grandma said to stop picking on the boy and give him a chance. Funny, Grandma is the only one who doesn’t consider me a playboy.”
    “That’s because you’re so much like Uncle Max. He was always Gram’s favorite.”
    “How come if I’m her favorite, no one listens to her?”
    “Get over it Trent.”
    “I don’t want to get over it, I want to understand it.”
    “Fine, I think your dad and Travis are jealous. Your dad busted his ass all his life and never did as well for himself as Max. Your dad always accused Grandma of