Page 64 of The Secrets We Treasure

Before Treasure could answer, Ethan spoke. “How does seven a.m. sound? We can hit the ground running. We have lots to cover, folks. If we play our cards right, we can start filming tomorrow.”

“Ten would work better for me,” Treasure cut in.

Ethan looked like he was about to argue, but before he could get a word out, Kyle chimed in with, “The boss lady has spoken. Ten it is.”

Treasure noted the acrimony that flashed in Ethan’s eyes before she offered Kyle and Cricket appreciative smiles. “Thanks for coming all this way. I’ll see y’all in the morning.”

“Sounds good,” Cricket answered. She and Kyle said their goodbyes and left through the front door.

“I’ll be right there,” Ethan called after them. He turned to Treasure and spoke in a low, urgent tone. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” He threw Greer an annoyed look. “Privately?”

Her stomach knotted. She glanced at Greer, who shook his head no. “If you’ve got something to say, you can say it right here.”

“Fine,” he growled. “Do I need to remind you how important this documentary is?”

“Do I need to remind you that I came here to take care of my mom?”

He scoffed. “Yeah, it looks like you’ve been doing a great job of that … off gallivanting at the beach with your friend.” He spit out the word friend like it was poison.

Treasure saw red as her words spewed out. “I told you that I didn’t want to do the documentary. And you dragged Kyle and Cricket here anyway. Furthermore, you lied about how the whole thing went down.”

He rocked back. “What do you mean I lied?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Of course not,” he barked, his face burning lobster red.

“I heard what Kyle said. You called him up. Not the other way around.” She was saying too much, but it felt good to vent her anger. Also, she and Ethan had been on the outs for weeks. If she suddenly changed her tune, it might arouse his suspicion more than simply being herself.

Ethan shook his head in weary defeat. “Why can’t you see that I’m doing all of this for you?”

He’d certainly perfected the part of playing the martyr. “If you truly cared about me, then you would have respected my wishes.” Tired of wasting her breath arguing, she pointed at the door. “Go!”

“Fine. We’ll discuss this tomorrow.” A spiteful smile curled his lips. “I’d hate to interrupt your dinner with your friend.” He shot Greer a malevolent glare before turning on his heel and storming out, slamming the door behind him.

“I don’t like that man.” Fire blazed in Barbara’s eyes.

“Join the club,” Greer said darkly.

Barbara looked from Treasure to Greer. “Okay, time for y’all to sit down and tell me what’s going on here. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that the two of you are anything but mere friends.”

The last thing Treasure wanted was to cause her mom more stress. She looked to Greer for help.

“I want the truth,” Barbara demanded.

“She deserves to know,” Greer urged.

Numbly, Treasure nodded. Greer went to her side and draped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I think so.” She gave him a weak smile.

“I was worried there for a minute when you went on the attack, but then you managed to reel it back in.”

She pushed out a humorless laugh. “You were worried? I was worried that you were gonna punch Ethan’s lights out.”

His jaw went razor sharp. “I was sorely tempted. What a slimy weasel.”

Barbara sighed in exasperation. “Would one of you please tell me what in the heck is going on?”

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