“Yes, exactly.” Asher pointed at her as if that were proof.
Jenna swatted his hand away. “That’s not why… I’m not disgusted by his money.”
“Tell your face that.” He teased her. “But then Ava said that was a strong word, so he said you had an aversion to it like if money was a bad smell you didn’t like.”
Jenna waited. “And.”
“Jenna,” Asher’s voice was warning her that she was crossing a line.
“Asher,” she said his name back to him in the same tone.
He sighed and then his demeanor changed. His expression was suddenly serious. “Do youreallythinkthisis a good idea? This is his private session.”
Damn. Did she? Yeah, she did. She nodded.
Asher sighed. “She basically asked him if that was a good thing or not.”
Jenna’s brows wrinkled in confusion.
Asher grinned. “Yeah, that was pretty much his reaction. She said that at least he knew you don’t want him for his money.”
She could tell that Asher was holding back, and that wasn’t all Ava had said. “Andddd?” Jenna prompted again.
“This is ridiculous.” Asher closed his eyes. “It’s his private session. It’s so wrong.”
“What did she say about me?” Jenna demanded.
Asher spoke quickly, the way he did when he just wanted to get conversations over with. “He said that he didn’t think you wanted him at all, and she basically said that if money wasn’t a priority to you then superficial things like appearance, status or attraction wouldn’t tempt you the way it might other people. So, if you were conflicted about seeing him then your connection with him was most likely more than just physical, it was deeper than that, and he should take the pressure off of you and be your friend so you could see that.”
So that’s what that whole, just come as my friend thing was about.Damn, she was good. It worked.
“So, Ava knew Deacon was talking about me?”
“No, she hadnoidea.” Asher shook his head. “When he left and I told her what I’d overheard and that he was talking about you, she was convinced I was wrong, until she heard something from her sisters about the trivia night and also something happened at the gala, and she freaked out. She wants to tell him their next session.”
“She wants to tell him you overhear?—”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe, but definitely that you are my ex.”
Jenna nodded. “So Ava pieced all that together about me without knowing it was me?”
Asher nodded, clearly twitterpated by his wife. “She’s good.”
“Shereallyis.”
Asher stood, indicating the conversation was over.
“Wait, is that it?’
“That isallI’m telling you.” She could see he was serious. “Because that’s all that was about your issues. But I will say he’s a good guy, and I really don’t think he would hurt you.”
She just stared up at him blinking. There was more hewasn’t telling her. She could try and guilt it out of him. He’d just basically said that he’d been a terrible husband to her. Was it worth doing that. Perhaps sensing her diabolical inner thoughts Asher stepped away from the table.
“Thanks for hearing me out.”
Jenna stood. “Thanks for…whatever that was.”
Asher started walking towards the front of the house. “You know Ava was a couple’s counselor for years before moving here.”
