The Problem with Second Chances Excerpt

She sits down on the couch, crossing her legs and opening up chopsticks. She grabs a piece of orange chicken and falls back to the couch. “So good.”

I take another piece and hold it up on my fork. “Amazing that even Chicago doesn’t have a Chinese restaurant that compares to Wok For U.”

She points her chopsticks at me. “You’re finally admitting it?”


There’s humor in her tone rather than the anger there usually is whenever we compare our small hometowns to Chicago. In fact, last time we talked about this, she dumped an entire carton of orange chicken in the trash saying it was disgusting.

“I did, didn’t I?”


She narrows her eyes playfully. “I kind of want to hear you say it again.”


I lean in close to her, reaching forward to grab an egg roll. “Wok For U has better food than any restaurant in Chicago,” I repeat, and a smile transforms her face. “Happy?”

“Very.” Her eyes sparkle.


Jesus, it means everything to see that spark back in her eyes, especially knowing I’m the one who put it there.