This chapter is dedicated to my best friend whom Ashley in this story is modeled after :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'ASHLEY TALBOTT'! You are the best friend in the world! : ) This one's for you!

Jack glanced between Tessa and Mike for a moment, his eyes narrowed suspiciously as he studied them.

"Hello," he replied coldly, "What's going on, Tess?"

Tessa's eyes were flashing defensively as she glared at her soon-to-be-ex-husband, "I was finishing up a session with a new client. What are you doing here, Jack?"

"Still my house, Tessa," replied Jack curtly, his dark brown eyes glancing back over at Mike, "And you are?"

Mike tried to suppress the urge to tell the man where he could go as he held out his hand and introduced himself, "Mike…Mike Green, defenseman for the Capitals."

Jack froze at that and cast another accusing glare in Tessa's direction, "Is that so? Well isn't that just splendid."

"Jack, don't do this," said Tessa, giving him a stern, warning look.

"Your first major client after we start signing divorce papers just so happens to be Mike Green?" accused Jack, his voice taking on a hard edge, "Somehow that doesn't seem to be just a coincidence to me. You pick the man you had a crush on all through college at a time like this? What's going on here Tessa?"

Tessa felt herself blush furiously as her husband confessed her old crush for Mike Green right in front of the NHL star. Mike raised an eyebrow at that and a slight smirk played on his lips as he watched the jealous husband rant and rage over his presence. The entire scene was rather amusing to him.

"Knock it off!" snapped Tessa, "Nothing is going on here! We finished a session early and its lunch time so I offered Mike some food. No big deal, stop being so freaking stupid!"

Just then, the door to the makeshift office opened and Brooks Laich and Ashley walked into the house. Tessa sighed slightly in relief at the momentary interruption. Ashley was walking close next to Brooks who had his arm around her, causing Tessa to raise an eyebrow in surprise. She figured the two would hit it off, their personalities were so alike, but she didn't think they would hit it off this well this quickly. All through college she and Ashley had talked about how much Tessa was like Mike and Ashley was like Brooks and how cool it would be if the two best friends dated the two NHL players who were best friends. It had always been more of a joke really but it looked like things may be heading in that direction…for Ashley at least.

Tessa on the other hand was literally standing between her long-time crush and her infuriated, jealous husband. Figures. Somehow even this situation didn't surprise her. She'd come to expect such ridiculous, insane, bizarre situations in her life. She was a magnet for things like this.

Ashley froze when she saw Jack in the kitchen glaring at Tessa and Mike. Instantly she knew what must have been going on just before she and Brooks had entered the room. She cast an angry glare, her eyes flashing with hatred for the rather tall, dark, handsome man in front of her. Although attractive, Jack Laverda had a terrible temper tantrum and an almost obsessive need to flirt with anything that had boobs and a decent ass. Needless to say…Ashley wasn't a fan of her best friend's husband.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded, startling Brooks with her sudden change of mood.

"That's what I'd like to know," muttered Tessa as she rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"I came to see if you finished the paperwork," snapped Jack, his eyes darting around the room.

Tessa gave Jack a disgusted look, "Oh trust me, I had that puppy filled out weeks ago. My lawyer has it so why don't you go talk to him instead of barging into my house and yes I said my house because, news flash, it is my house!"

Jack glared furiously at Tessa and took a step toward her, but hesitated when he saw Mike do the same. He glanced up and made eye-contact with Mike Green. The defenseman's eyes were flashing dangerously as he silently challenged him to do anything more.

"That's cute," sneered Jack, "Already defensive of you, eh? You two must have really hit it off."

"Why don't you just shut the hell up?" snapped Tessa, her patience clearly gone for her husband, "The man just lost his fiancé so why don't you knock it off with your stupid insinuations?"

Jack froze at that and cast a surprised glance in Mike's direction. Mike looked away quickly, his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to hide his reaction from everyone.

"Get out," snarled Tessa, her eyes taking on an almost dangerous glint, "Get the hell out of my house, now!"

Jack hesitated, glancing around the room at everyone, not wanting to back down in front of so many people. His pride wouldn't allow him to give in so easily. Brooks Laich noted his hesitation and took a step forward himself.

"I believe the young lady just told you to leave," he said, his voice low and quiet yet firm and dangerous all at once, "She's asked you nicely, but I won't ask you nicely a second time. Leave."

Jack sneered openly at Brooks as he turned around to leave the house. He slammed the door behind him, causing one of the framed pictures in the hallway to fall onto the floor. Tessa cursed him as she locked the door behind him.

"You really should get those locks changed," muttered Ashley, still seething from just having to see Jack again.

Tessa sighed, "Yeah I haven't gotten around to it…things have been a little crazy," she muttered as she glanced over at Mike who looked like he was ready to throttle someone, "You okay?"

Mike nodded, wiping the look of pain and anger from his face in an instant, "Yeah…I'm fine," he said, a smirk suddenly playing on his lips, "So…you had a crush on me?"

Tessa blushed furiously while Ashley about died laughing right there in the kitchen. Tessa shot her a warning glare, "You better hush…I'll tell everyone your little secret too."

Ashley got quiet instantly and gave Tessa a pleading look. Tessa smiled victoriously while Ashley gave her friend a playful glare.

"My shrink's gotta thing for me," said Mike, looking rather pleased with himself.

Brooks Laich laughed at that as he noted Tessa's bright red face, "Apparently so."

"Oh, shut up," muttered Tessa, "That was in college…and besides I've been married since then."

"So? Doesn't mean you still don't have the hots for my best friend," said Brooks, a goofy smile on his face, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

Ashley tried to suppress a smirk at Tessa's expense and received a warning glare in return.

"All of you knock it off," said Tessa, giving them all playful glares, "And get the hell out of my house…all of you. I have other clients to see and the last thing I need is for anyone else to see all the problems their therapist has…wouldn't make for very good advertising."

Mike smirked as he headed outside with Brooks and Ashley, "No worries, doc…we all have our issues, right?"

Tessa gave Mike a grateful smile, "That we do, Mike…that we do. Now, speaking of issues," she said, turning her attention over to where Brooks was flirting shamelessly with Ashley, "Your best friend seems to have laid claim to my best friend already. What are we gonna do about that?"

Mike smiled a little, "I dunno doc…you're the shrink. Don't you have all the answers?"

"I wish," said Tessa with a sigh.

Mike gave her a quick smile as he turned to leave, "Well…I better tear Brooks away from her and get him back home. See you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," agreed Tessa as she watched Mike walk down the sidewalk toward Brooks' car.

Her first session with Mike hadn't gone as badly as she thought it would have…minus the whole husband-showing-up thing. If Jack would stay the hell out of her life it would make this so much easier, but a big part of Tessa knew that her issues with Jack weren't over yet. And she definitely knew that Mike hadn't finished dealing with his either. This was only the beginning of both Tessa and Mike's separate healing processes…there was still a lot to be done before either of them could truly move on…

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