“Do you want to hear a joke?” he whispered, tittering.
“Is it a techie joke?” Kyle asked.
“Sort of.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. Okay, go.”
“What is Forrest Gump’s computer password?”
“123456,” Marsha answered without skipping a beat.
“What?” Dale asked, astonished. “No. It’s a joke, Marsha. And, just so you know, that’s literally the worst password ever. You realize every hacker in the world tries that one first, right?”
“That’s my password for everything.”
“Somehow I’m not surprised.”
“Dale,” I blurted out. “The suspense is killing me. What is Forrest Gump’s password?”
“1forrest1.”
None of us responded right away, possibly processing the genius of the joke, but then the floodgates opened and we all dissolved into hysterical fits of laughter.
“Would you please be quiet!” Gene blasted over the thunder. “Some of us are trying to sleep.”
“That would be the ‘some of us’ who don’t have water dripping on their heads,” Dale mumbled, for only us to hear.
“I don’t know about you guys, but tomorrow morning I’m going to have some serious words with the roofer,” Marsha declared.
* * *
When I awokethe next morning, Marsha and I were in the middle of the spoon train. Kyle was sound asleep, his arms wrapped tightly around my body and his head tucked into the crook my neck. I had to smile at the intimacy as well as the pure innocence of our embrace. Instead of pulling out of his hold, I snuggled a little tighter into him. Why not? He was warm, and honestly, it had been way too long since I’d had strong, masculine arms draped around me.
My last boyfriend had been three long years ago, the son of the couple who owned the one-screen movie theater in town. I’d known him all my life. Four years older than me, Greg and I had only been dating for a few months when he’d asked me to marry him. I was twenty-one and not ready for the life he was offering. And although Greg was a nice guy, we just didn’t have the spark needed to maintain a long and successful marriage. We broke up and, six months later, he married the pharmacist’s daughter. I’d been single ever since.
As I lay there listening to Kyle’s rhythmic breathing, I smiled despite myself. Last night had been hell. The storm that passed through was fierce. Most of the night we’d lain awake as our senses were assaulted by the wrath of Mother Nature. I might have slept a few hours at most. But strangely, I was wide awake now and excited for the game to really begin. It was one whole month, maybe even longer if I played my cards right. One month with no work, no schedules, no day-to-day stress. I breathed in happily. For the first time since this whole adventure began, I was feeling beyond lucky. I’d spent so many years putting others first to the detriment of my own happiness. Somewhere along the line, I’d given up on my own ambitions to boost the dreams of others. I always told myself that someday, when the triplets were older and on their own, it would be my turn. But the older I got, the further away that seemed. This money, if I could manage to win it, could buy me a new future.
Kyle nap-jerked, pulling me back into the present. I was surprised at how relaxed I was with him. Kyle made me laugh, which was something I’d been lacking lately. Life always tended to get in the way of a good time. Kyle shifted as he woke from his slumber, and I waited as he yawned and stretched his long legs.
“Good morning, Sunshine. Was last night as good for you as it was for me?” he asked in a sleepy voice.
“Better,” I smiled. “You were amazing.”
I could feel Kyle’s lips form into a smile on my neck. Oh, lord, he was pretty awesome. He kept his arms around me. I could definitely get used to this sleep position.
“Check it out,” he said, pointing toward Marsha and Dale. Her wayward boobs were squished up against his back and her leg was straddling his. I could only imagine Dale’s horror when he woke up to that reality. Attempting to stifle a giggle, I failed miserably. My enjoyment was short-lived, though, when I caught sight of a camera guy and a sound tech coming our way.
“Oh, my god,” I said burying my head in his arm.
“What?”
“Camera, four o’clock.”
“You’re on a reality show, Kenzie. Get used to it. They’re everywhere.”
And just as he said that, another pair of cameramen made their way over.
“We must be the only ones awake.”
