Dave was sitting on a stool in a truck stop getting ready to eat breakfast. It was shaping up to be a dismal rainy day in Boston. The temperature was not bad, but the rain was just a steady shower from a boring grey sky. He was on his way to pick up a load, and then heading west. He would drop off, and pick up more. He genuinely enjoyed driving his rig around the country. He also enjoyed his freedom. The truck was his, so he could pick his loads, and effectively decide where he was going to visit next.
The waitress walked up behind the counter and roughly placed his order in front of him, and then filled his cup with coffee. She was already walking away from him as he said "thanks". She showed no signs that she actually liked her job, or cared about him as a customer. He made a mental note that any tip would be sparse.
As he glanced out front he noticed that a patrol car had pulled up, and the officer looked to be scolding someone. The rain streaked windows made it impossible to tell what his arms were flying around about, but he looked upset about something. Dave turned his attention back to his, apparently overcooked, scrambled eggs.
As he inserted a small fork full of the rubbery blob into his mouth he heard the door open. A bag was dropped on the floor a couple of stools down and a young woman took the seat. She was removing her rain gear which was dripping on the floor still.
"What can I get you" the waitress asked in the same crappy tone she had spoken to Dave in. Clearly she didn't enjoy her job
"I'll have some scrambled eggs, wheat toast, and a cup of orange juice please. Do you have real butter for the toast? " the young lady asked with a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Of course we do" the waitress snapped as she strode back to the kitchen area.
Dave's interest was piqued. Its a fairly miserable day out. What could she be excited about in this place? Certainly not the scrambled eggs she was about to be served. "I hope yours is better than mine" he commented to her after the waitress had disappeared into the bank.
"Excuses me?" The young lady said.
Dave turned to face her, and got his first look at her face. She was pretty. She had light brown hair that hung down past her shoulders, and deep blue eyes that seemed to peer right into his soul. Her lips had a puffiness to them that he found attractive. Her nose was proportionate to her face, and her eye brows were well trimmed. Her skin looked soft and inviting. He imagined what her mouth would feel like if he were to kiss her.
"The eggs" he said, tapping his fork on his plate. "Mine were overcooked, and not that warm when they arrived. Put her shitty attitude on top of it all, and this might be the worst breakfast I've had in a long time."
She smiled at him. Her nice white teeth were brilliantly displayed, and he sensed some warmth in her grin. He guessed that she was probably about twenty years old, maybe twenty- two. She looked to have a fairly small frame holding some nice sized breasts, but still, the thick clothing she wore made it hard to be sure.
"I'm Dave by the way." He added.
"Nice to meet you Dave. My name is Catherine, but everyone just calls me Cat" she said with a slight giggle in her voice.
He looked down at her bag on the floor. "Where ya headed Cat?"
"I don't really have a destination in mind. I figured that I would just head West, and see where I wound up. Initially I thought California, but that's too clichΓ© for me. So I'm thinking Oregon or Washington now." She seemed to be studying him for some sort of reaction. "What do you think?"
He raised his right eye brow at the question, and took another bite of the now cold overcooked eggs. Then he turned back to her and gave her a good look. He let his eyes roam over her from head to toe. She had on rain boots, and her baggy pants were tucked into them. It looked as though she probably had some long underwear on under them, for added warmth. The jacket she wore looked like it was probably warm, as well as water resistant. Too loose to get a good idea of what her figure looked like. He settled his gaze back to her eyes. "I think that if you are planning on walking you have ample time to decide where your final destination will land you. Or, if you catch rides, slightly less time, but you will need to be careful. There are some people out there that will gladly take advantageof a young woman such as yourself Cat."
"What about you Dave, where are you heading?" she turned her attention back to the bar as the waitress approached. She dropped the plate in front of her, spun around, and headed off without even a word. Cat picked up the fork, cut into her eggs, and stuffed some into her mouth. The grimace on her face told him she enjoyed hers as much as he was enjoying his.
Dave took a sip of his coffee. "I'm heading West. I have some stops along the way, but I typically end up in South California, and then track North. Sometimes all the way to Vancouver before I turn back East."
"How long to get to the North West Dave?" she asked. There was sarcasm in her question, and she shot him a smile as she partially turned to look at him.
"That depends young lady. If I drive straight through it's a few days. I have to stop and rest, and get it all logged in my computer for the Highway Patrol types. They frown on driving extended periods of time." He returned her sarcastic tone, and smiled back. "I tell you what Cat. You strike me as a reasonably decent individual, not boring, and not obnoxious. If you like, I'll give you a lift as far as you would like to ride. When you decide that you have enjoyed my company for long enough, you can get out at the next stop. Or, If I tire of your company, I will let you know, and drop you off at my next stop. What do you say?"
She turned away from him, and seemed to concentrate on her eggs again. She apparently decided that the toast looked better at that time. After taking a nibble of it she sipped her juice. She looked back to him "I don't know Dave... We've only just met, and I haven't decided if I can trust you yet."
"Okay Cat, but I don't have time to sit around until you are completely comfortable with me. I have deliveries to make, so will the next trucker. We are pretty busy individuals honey. I've got to go get my rig ready to roll out. I'm going to leave this stop in about 30 minutes. You have until then to make up your mind. If you decide you are in you can find me in spot 114. I'm straight out that door, and past the diesel pumps. Biggest truck in the yard, you won't miss it. Either way I wish you luck Cat. Enjoy that, umm, breakfast." he snickered as he said the last part, and tipped his hat as he headed for the door.
Back at his truck he was keeping an eye on the door to the diner. He was hoping that he had sewed the seeds well enough to get her to follow. He would wait in his truck, and rest for a bit before getting underway. His heart rate had picked up with the anticipation he was feeling. He turned the heat up inside the truck. If she climbed in she would likely need to take the jacket off. That would give him a better idea about what her body looked like. He was so lost in thought about it that he almost didn't notice her exiting the stop cafe, and heading for the diesel pumps. The edges of his mouth began to curl up to form a devilish grin.
He extended his hand to her as he opened the door to the sleeper cab. He practically yanked her inside with her bag. Then he shut, and locked the door behind her. She flashed him a concerned look letting him know that locking her in made her a bit uncomfortable.
"Relax" he said reassuringly, "I always keep the doors locked. It is habit, and it keeps my rig safe and sound. I apologize for the rough treatment getting you in here. I hope I didn't startle you too badly Cat." He gave her the friendliest smile he could muster.
"It's okay Dave, just took me by surprise is all." She was looking around the sleeper with a look of amazement on her face. "This is huge Dave. Like an RV or something."
Dave gave a soft laugh "Yeah, it's like a rolling living quarters for me. Makes my travels way more comfortable than most of the rigs out there. I wouldn't trade it for anything." He paused to look at her dripping in his truck. "Can I take your bag, and coat Cat?"
"Huh?" she responded absentmindedly, "Oh yeah, I'm sorry." She giggled as she handed him her bag, and slipped out of her coat.