His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

"For a woman who just looks like Eliza?"

Aaron was baffled. But Casper was always reckless. Aaron was used to his arrogance and domineering ways, so it wasn't all that surprising.

"I guess I'm just a bit competitive," Casper said, tossing a cigarette into his mouth, letting it dangle there.

"Seems like you still haven't figured out why Eliza left," Aaron said, lowering his gaze and feeling the need to remind Casper. "People turn suicidal out of despair. Mr. Casper, you've already driven one woman to her death. Are you planning to add a second or third to that list?"

Casper suddenly burst into laughter. He turned to face Aaron. "What's the matter, Dr. Martin, losing your nerve?"

"I just want to remind you not to go too far."

Casper looked toward the setting sun.

Over the years, he never understood why Aaron had liked Eliza in the first place. Aaron wasn't the romantic type, and Eliza wasn't his usual preference. What had sparked his feelings?

Was it just a sense of heroism? Or was it simply because he felt sorry for Eliza's situation?

Casper, being a man himself, couldn't believe that a man would give his all to a woman without expecting anything in return.

was Aaron after,

style, Dr.

brow, revealing

completely faded, and the

they stood in was a place of shared memories from their youth. As time passed, their friendship, tested by the years,

would you join us for a firefly show tonight?] The message was

watching è fireflies. The doctor said it would lift

knew how to use the people Eliza cared about to manipulate her into doing things

always been that way and

figured out she was Eliza. So what? As long

sent her a message, too. [Val, I'm in Oak

eyes shifted back to

phone and replied to Aaron, [Sounds great,

[Okay.]

deleted his contact. The night in Oak Falls was chilly with the lingering touch of

come tonight?"