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

out of the

Beckett." Alyssa smiled slightly

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

his mouth to speak but could not make a

a slight bitterness at the

that she was someone

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

to hear any words of concern from

she didn't

you have time for achat?"

in my

Alyssa was

her way of speech

and sensible

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

your birthday tomorrow," Alyssa spoke up

Jasper looked askance

He gulped silently.

he didn't need any gifts when Alyssa surprised him with

what you promised me?" Jasper looked

answered in a low, deep voice,

"Then, it's time for you to fulfill

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

eyes and asked, "A