Can’t Win Me Back

It was as though Jasper was adrift in a pool of pure astonishment, and the fact that the ledge beneath

them was falling apart only enhanced this surreal feeling.

“Hurry, Alice!” he cried, resurrecting a name that had been dormant in his mind for years.

Alyssa jolted in shock. The call of that name seemed to give her a boost of adrenaline. She was able to

push herself up on the ledge at the last second, right into Jasper’s arms.

He held her close in his arms, keeping her safe.

A thunderous boom echoed through the air.

Just as the rocky ledge disintegrated and tumbled down the mountainside, Jasper deftly rolled aside,

narrowly escaping the peril.

“Fuck!” he hissed in pain when his back collided with a boulder. The intensity of the pain led to an

immediate outbreak of sweat on his skin.

“Are you hurt?” Alyssa asked worriedly, noticing how pale he was.

Jasper shook his head, his voice steady as he reassured, “I’m okay.”

Alyssa heaved a sigh of relief, falling back against his chest. By now, both were thoroughly drenched and

shivering from the cold.

“Why… Why didn’t you tell me?” Jasper asked hoarsely, gazing at her.

“What?” Alyssa avoided his gaze.

“Why didn’t you tell me that we met 13 years ago? Why didn’t you tell me you were the girl I saved all

those years ago?” Jasper asked, pain and anguish flooding his chest.

in

he call her Alice because of that?

But why now?

after 13 years?

too late now. How she wished he had never

Jasper asked, forcing her to

+15 BONUS

you remember why I called myself Alice

pricked Jasper’s heart. Of course he

nickname because she refused to answer when he

in

in his wildest dreams did Jasper imagine that a

their lives 13 years later. She

for so long,

do.” Alyssa smiled lightly. “There’s no need

than another passerby in your life, after all. Whether it was 13 years, three years,

Jasper’s breathing hitched.

was nothing amiss in his complete forgetfulness of her or in his act of

Yet, he couldn’t stop the

heart for 13 years, yet he had forgotten her. All she ever did was try closing

who only wanted to shut her

sorry…” Jasper croaked out. “I … really didn’t know… If

would have still divorced

she had her regrets about him, she wasn’t holding on

Alice, they’re nothing more than just names. It

really. I should be the one thanking you.

a chance to know

properly thank you.”

wanted to know the

on end. “Is it just because I saved you once, and you wanted to pay me

past now.

closed her eyes, as if closing a tender

focus on getting to safety right now. I’m freezing here.”

seemed to be an unspoken truce between them as