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“It is.”

“This road leads to the Golden Wok.”

“It does.” He turned into the shopping center.

I gasped. “No.”

“Yes.”

A laugh escaped my throat. “You took me on a romantic run through private pack land, kissed me beside a waterfall, and now you’re bringing me to an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet?”

He shrugged and put his truck in park. “I planned a balanced evening.”

“Nature, romance, and sodium?”

“Exactly.”

The large red-and-gold letters above the entrance had lost one section of lighting, leaving GOLDEN WO partially illuminated.

I looked through the windshield at the familiar windows. The Great Wall Challenge sign taunted me.

Our first attempt had not earned true glory. Sure, we’d cleared the platter fast enough to qualify for a photograph and T-shirts, but not enough to challenge the top score.

Hudson opened his door. “I thought we could give the Great Wall Challenge another try.”

“So this was your plan all along. Go for a god-awful run directly before a buffet challenge.”

“Of course. It increased our appetite.” Hudson came around the truck and opened my door.

I looked up at him.

He held out his hand. “You’re afraid we won’t beat our record.”

I narrowed my eyes and put my hand in his. “Not necessarily. I’m feeling pretty hungry.”

We crossed the parking lot together. The moment Hudson opened the restaurant door, warm air carrying soy sauce, fried onions, sugar, and several decisions nutritionists preferred not to discuss wrapped around us.

The bell above the entrance chimed.

The manager stood behind the register reviewing a stack of receipts. He looked up, saw Hudson, then shifted his attention to me. Recognition arrived immediately.

“Oh,” he said. “You.”

I laughed.

Hudson placed one hand over his heart. “That sounded less welcoming than I expected.”

The manager looked toward the Wall of Fame. “You caused quite the commotion last time.”

“People cheered,” I said.

The manager scowled. “You stood on a chair.”

“I was overcome by our achievement.”

The manager crossed his arms. “There was no need for such excitement. You finished your food but you did not win the top score.”

“Ouch.” I pointed to the wall. “At least we beat one couple’s score.”