But now his big win is about to become official, so Leo and I skip eighth period and head downtown for the press conference in the lottery offices. His mom is there, of course, and we stand in the back with her, behind the reporters with their microphones and the news crews with their cumbersome equipment, watching as Teddy accepts the enormous check with a smile nearly as big.
“Teddy,” a reporter calls out when it’s time for questions. “What are you planning to do with the money?”
“I’m not sure yet,” he says as the cameras flash all around him, and Leo rolls his eyes at me because we both know that’s not quite true. He’s already tried his best to make a nice little dent in it. “For now I’m still just getting used to the idea.”
“You’re the youngest winner ever,” says someone else. “Still in high school. Does this change anything for you?”
“Other than my math grade?” Teddy jokes, and there’s a roar of laughter.
I can see it happening: the glint in his eyes, the obvious pleasure he gets when a crowd starts to warm to him. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a gaggle of reporters or a group of high school students: Teddy knows how to win people over, and a press conference is nothing more than a larger stage and a bigger challenge.
As he hoists the check up higher, it slips from one of his hands and a lottery official reaches out to help. But Teddy side-eyes him and steps away, holding on to it even tighter and giving his audience a look of exaggerated concern.
“No way am I letting go of this thing,” he says as the crowd chuckles, and I can’t help smiling too. He looks so handsome up there in his checked button-down, his hair combed neatly to tame the piece that always sticks up in the back. He’s all boyish enthusiasm and barely concealed joy, and even if I weren’t so stupidly in love with him, I’m sure I’d still find it nearly as charming as I do now.
“It’s been reported that a friend of yours bought the ticket as a gift,” someone says. “Can you comment on that?”
I feel the heat rise in my face, and Katherine reaches over to give my hand a little squeeze. From the podium Teddy winks at me, a movement so fast you wouldn’t catch it unless you were looking for it. Which I was.
“That’s true,” he tells the audience. “Which only proves I’m the luckiest guy in the world in more ways than one.”
Without quite meaning to, I put a hand over my heart.
From up onstage, Teddy smiles at me.
When it’s over, he finds us waiting for him in the back. “How’d I do?” he asks, grinning in a way that makes it clear he already knows.
“When did you get to be such a pro at this?” Katherine asks, beaming at him.
He laughs. “I think I was born for this.”
“Careful,” Leo teases him, “or your head is gonna get bigger than that check.”
“You were great,” I say, aware that I’m staring at him. But I can’t help it. Maybe it was the lights or the cameras, or maybe it was seeing him handle those questions like he’s been doing it his whole life, but something about him looks different to me now.
“Thanks, Al,” he says. “And thanks for being here.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t cut class for just anyone.”
He smiles. “That means a lot.”
One of the lottery officials calls his name then, waving him over, and Teddy gives us an apologetic shrug before hurrying off. There are more interviews for him to do, more people to talk to, more hands to shake. Katherine stays behind to wait for him, but Leo and I say goodbye, walking back outside to find that it’s raining. We stand beneath the overhang of the building, the air around us smelling of spring, and wait for it to let up.
“Well,” Leo says, looking at me sideways.
I laugh. “Well.”
“That was…something.”
On the street, people struggle with their umbrellas. We peer out at the sky, which is low and heavy, a deep gunmetal gray that matches the buildings around it.
“Are you going home now?” Leo asks as he pulls up the hood of his jacket.
I shake my head. “Nursing home.”
“Right,” he says. “Wouldn’t want to miss pinochle.”
“Gotta keep my winning streak alive,” I say with a grin. “What about you?”
