Page 17 of B-Side

Yes.

Me:

How many?

Alec:

I don’t know exactly.

Me:

Did you spend thousands of dollars?

Alec:

What?

Me:

Alec, did you?

Alec:

I donated to the school.

I had to think of a way to ask directly.

Me:

Did you buy a bunch of raffle tickets in my name?

I pressed send, having no idea what he would say.

Alec:

Yes. Did you win?

I read the text twice just to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I was sitting in my small living room, and I reached out and put my phone on the coffee table. My heart was racing and I had no idea what to do. I felt silly for thinking I had won that Jeep fair and square with one ticket. Alec texted me back before I picked my phone up again.

Alec:

Did you win?

I picked up my phone and carelessly typed the word…

Me:

Yes

…before tossing the phone down again.

I didn't know how to feel about any of this. It was all so big, bold, and sudden that I had a hard time taking it in.

Alec:

Congratulations! They had already sold a lot of tickets, so it's amazing that you won.

Me:

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