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.

almost fragile as if the wind might

of the

Beckett." Alyssa smiled

at her face, which had turned red from the cold, he could tell that she had been wandering outdoors for a

his mouth to speak

could taste was a slight bitterness at

was someone who

she loved to snuggle in his arms and use his hands as her source of heat;

hope to hear any words of

she didn't mind

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

chat in

was very

her way of speech sounded a little

and sensible demeanor

quick-witted, made space for this pair of ex-lovers to spend

tomorrow," Alyssa spoke up first to

looked

He gulped silently.

didn't need any gifts when Alyssa surprised him with her next

you promised me?"

low,

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

want you to go on a hike with me tomorrow at 3:00 p.m." Jasper

eyes and asked, "A