Can’t Win Me Back

Xavier was confused.

He caught the tie bar in his hands and asked, " What's this, Mr. Beckett?" Jasper closed his eyes to rest.

He tugged at his tie knot but still felt suffocated.

"It was from Sheryl,"' he answered.

Xavier let out a cry.

"This filthy thing is from that wild woman? I don't want it!" With a disgusted look on his face, Xavier hurled the tie bar aside.

" I'm already seeing someone.

I don't want my girlfriend to misunderstand me." "Girlfriend?" "Yeah, Mr. Beckett.

Maggie is my girlfriend." With his eyes closed, Jasper frowned.

"She's become of age?" Xavier didn't know how he should react.

"She's already in university, Mr. Beckett.

Am I that much of an animal in your eyes?" Suddenly, the memory of himself and Alyssa rescuing Maggie flashed through Jasper's mind.

Just then, Xavier exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Beckett, look!" Jasper opened his eyes slowly, and his heart jolted.

Standing alone before his car was Alyssa, framed against the piercing headlights, snow swirling around her.

her dark hair, and she looked almost

Jasper stepped out of

Beckett." Alyssa smiled

her face, which had turned red from the cold, he could tell that

opened his mouth to speak but could not make

was a slight bitterness at

someone who

as her source of heat; his hands kept her

to hear any words of concern

she didn't

do you have time for achat?" Jasper pursed

in my car."

you." Alyssa was very courteous

her way of speech

mature and sensible demeanor

for this pair of ex-lovers to spend time together by

tomorrow," Alyssa spoke up first

looked

He gulped silently.

to say that he didn't need any gifts when Alyssa surprised

you remember what you promised me?" Jasper looked

low,

your promise." "Then, it's time for you to fulfill that promise." She clenched her

hike with me tomorrow

eyes and asked, "A hike? Where?" "At