Free True To You (Taking Chances #2) by Liwen Ho Page A

better,” Melanie replied with a melodic lilt to her voice. “You’re right, Sam. It’s time I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I’m done being stuck in the past. I’m going to start living again.”
    “Who in the world are you, and what have you done with my sister?” she demanded with her hands on her hips. Narrowing her eyes, she focused in on Melanie’s ear-to-ear smile. “Who cares! I like this new Ga Je .”
    “I think I do, too. Now, I’m going to go deliver this to a certain math teacher.”
    Ben noticed his sister’s face light up, and he turned around to see what had caught her attention. He beamed at the sight of Melanie coming towards them. After last night’s unexpected ending to their date, he had wondered when he might see her again. If it weren’t for his and Melvin’s friendship, he would have tried harder to pursue her. He had been willing to wait however long it might take, but he was thankful God was putting him out of his misery sooner rather than later.
    Standing up, Ben reached out to take the large plate from her hands and set it on the table. “Hey Melanie, thank you. This smells amazing. You know what, you just made my day.”
    “I didn’t know you liked fried noodles that much,” Melanie teased.
    Ben laughed. “I was talking about seeing you here.”
    “I know. I’m happy to see you, too.” Her cheeks flushed when the words left her mouth. She surprised herself with her sudden playfulness. Clearing her throat, she turned to the young woman staring at them in amusement. “Hi, I’m Melanie. You must be Ashlynn. You have the same dimples as your brother.”
    “Yup, they’re from our mom. I only have one though so I’m not quite as symmetrical, as Ben likes to point out,” she replied with an eye roll.
    “It’s okay, I think you’re much prettier than he is. He has more of a nerdy appeal, if you ask me.”
    “That’s what I always say,” Ashlynn exclaimed. “I have a feeling we’re going to get along really well.”
    “Hey, in case you guys forgot,” Ben retorted with a fake pout, “the guy you’re talking about, whose ego you just trampled on, is standing right here.”
    “Oh, please. You know nerdy is code word for cute.”
    “Is it now?” Ben shot Melanie a questioning glance. “Can you confirm that, Dr. Koo?”
    “I’m going to need more time before I can make an official diagnosis.”
    Ashlynn grinned as she looked from Ben to Melanie while they bantered, then she rose from her chair. “Excuse me, guys. I’m going to use the restroom. It’s so good to meet you, Melanie. Go ahead and eat, Ben.”
    Food, however, was the last thing on Ben’s mind. Now that Melanie was here, he had more pressing matters at hand. He opened his mouth to speak, “I-”
    “You-” The first word had barely left Melanie’s mouth when she realized Ben was trying to talk, too.
    “Please, you first.”
    “You sure?” At Ben’s urging, she continued. “I was going to say that you saved me a phone call by coming here tonight.”
    “I knew there was a good explanation for why I had been craving Chinese food all day,” he joked. “Speaking of phone calls, I got one from a mutual friend of ours last night.”
    “Are you talking about Melvin?”
    “The one and only.”
    “What did he say?”
    “He told me that you guys talked after I left, and the wedding is officially off.”
    “It is.”
    “Also,” Ben added in a tentative voice, “that if he had to lose you to anyone, he was glad it was me.”
    “I didn’t realize I was a prize to be won,” she remarked with a sly smile.
    “You’re not. But I did assure him I would do my best to win you over. I hope you’ll give me the chance to do that. I would love to spend more time with you and get to know you better.”
    Without realizing it, Melanie had taken a step forward and closed the gap between them. She peered up at Ben and spoke from her heart. “I would like that, too.”
    “What do you know, the odds