Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

As Alyssa stared at the man in the photo, her heart clenched with each beat, then raced erratically.

The yellowing border indicated the photo's age.

In the image, Jonah and the man appeared intimately affectionate.

Even though the photo couldn't speak, Alyssa could tell that Jonah and he were lovers. Their affection for each other was evident in

the depth of their eyes.

Jonah's smile in the photo was so bright and warm. Even Alyssa, who had been raised by Jonah since childhood, had never seen

such a smile on his face, not even when he was with Julien.

Somehow, a murky and inexplicable emotion lodged in Alyssa's chest, causing her discomfort.

Suddenly, she heard steady footsteps outside the study.

Alyssa quickly put the Bible back in its place and slipped the photo into her pocket.

The door to the study clicked open.

When he saw Alyssa, a smile crept on his face. "When did

you wait

"Not too long."

she glanced outside. "Is Jul

sleep in. We had a good tlast night, so | doubt he'll be up before afternoon." Jonah's

as he

bit her lip and took a deep breath before saying, "Jonah, could you close the door? | want

it. He turned to close the door and then returned to stand in front of her. "Lyse, you

What happened?”

the photo from her pocket before handing it to Jonah. "Who

Jonah?"

photo, his face instantly drained of color. His heart clenched painfully before

palpitations.

pounded violently when he saw him as if it were his first tmeeting

the affirmative answer

as he took the photo. His voice

it. You know how | like to snoop around.

were tinged with sadness, and he felt stifled. "When |

once. He used to be one

Alyssa knew about