Can’t Win Me Back

“I made this artwork too hastily. It’s rather rough. It could have been more intricate.” Lauren felt embarrassed, thinking her art was too ugly to be given.

“No way! It’s really good.” Cyrus tried to maintain his composure, but he was so excited that his voice wavered slightly. “Thank you, Lauren. I love it… Oh, by the way…”

He reached into the car and retrieved a neatly packaged candy apple, his ears turning red with embarrassment. “I saw a candy apple stand on the way here and couldn’t resist. I haven’t eaten it. Let me give it to you.”

Alyssa narrowed her eyes in confusion.

Knowing Cyrus’ love for food, it seemed unlikely that he would still have the candy apple if he’d been craving it so much. It was clear he had bought it for Lauren but was too shy to admit it.

“A candy apple?” A spark lit up Lauren’s eyes.

It was hard to believe that a wealthy girl like her had never experienced this common street snack.

Javier and Sophia had kept her sheltered at home due to her illness. She had a driver for school, rarely venturing out with friends like other girls would.

Moreover, Javier had a disdain for street food, so while she had seen candy apples before, she had never tasted one.

the candy apple to Lauren.

her tongue out

his heart, crept into the corners of his eyes. Lauren’s innocent expression was like the candy apple on a

of his eyes. Lauren’s innocent expression was like

her candy apples

Yet, bit by bit, he pushed the thought aside—his confession dissipated into the breeze with his gentle

together. Alyssa sat before the mirror, a towel enveloping her body, while Jasper assisted in

hard to dry. Yet, Jasper displayed unwavering patience, meticulously tending to it with

was tended to, Jasper encircled her

on her shoulder,

but raise her

kiss ignited a

Jasper carried Alyssa to the bathroom. He settled her into the bathtub using the shower head

called out to