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.

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

out of the car

Beckett." Alyssa smiled slightly at

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

speak but

a slight bitterness

was someone who got cold

hands as her

any words of concern

she didn't mind

asked, "Mr. Beckett, do you have time for

chat in

Alyssa was

speech sounded a

mature and sensible demeanor

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

spoke up

Jasper looked askance at

He gulped silently.

didn't need any

remember what you promised me?" Jasper looked

a low, deep voice, "Of

for you to fulfill that

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

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