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.

tossed her dark hair, and she looked almost fragile as if the wind might

Jasper stepped out of the

Beckett." Alyssa smiled slightly

cold, he could tell that she had been wandering outdoors for a very

opened his mouth to speak

slight bitterness at the back of his

remembered that she was someone

the temperature dropped, she loved to snuggle in his arms and use his hands as her

any words of concern from

so, she

have time for

in

Alyssa was very

speech sounded a little

mature and sensible demeanor

ex-lovers to spend time

tomorrow," Alyssa spoke up first to break the

Jasper looked askance at

He gulped silently.

that he didn't need

you remember what you promised me?"

in a low, deep voice, "Of

promise." "Then, it's time for you to fulfill that

hike with me

and asked,