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 fragile as if

Jasper stepped out of the car

Mr. Beckett." Alyssa

had turned red from the cold, he could tell that she had been wandering outdoors for

his mouth to speak but

could taste was a slight bitterness at the back of his

was someone who got cold

snuggle in his arms and use his hands as her source

any words of concern

so, she didn't

"Mr. Beckett, do you have time for achat?"

chat in my

you." Alyssa was very

of speech

mature and sensible demeanor annoyed

made space for this pair of ex-lovers to spend time together by getting out of the car to wait for

up first

Jasper looked askance

He gulped silently.

he didn't need

what you

low, deep voice,

it's time for

hike with me tomorrow at 3:00 p.m." Jasper was

and asked, "A hike? Where?"