Cam smiled. “You got the trailer key handy? I’ll get my bike settled before it starts coming down hard.”
It took some effort, but he was able to get his bike into the trailer next to hers. Some bikers didn’t worry about covering their rides for weather, but if shelter was available, he’d take it.
The van had more room in it than he thought. A small kitchenette area, folding table and bench on one side, and on the other…
“Holy shit! What are those?”
Sabrina laughed. “My kids, Rugrat and Reptar. They’re bearded dragons. Want to meet them?”
Cam looked at the two lizards, the theme of her headgear suddenly making sense. “Why do you have them?”
“Presents from a former roommate. She moved out and left them behind. They’re my roommates now. A lot cleaner and no complaints.”
The two animals scurried to stare at him for a moment, as if sizing him up. One of them puffed up a bristled chin at him while the other crawled off to other parts of their enclosure. He and the lizard had a stare-off before the reptile gave up and moved to climb the tree.
He turned to see Sabrina sit at the table, open the bag, and look at the plastic containers. Her laugh sounded genuine as she held one up. “I see people here do the same thing as Southern people—use Country Crock as Tupperware.”
“My foster mom called them ‘pass on’ go-boxes. No need to return them, just use and pass on to the next person.”
“I’ll do what I can, but my storage is limited. You may get them back anyway.” She pressed her fingers over one dish. “Oh, wow, it’s still warm.”
“Try one.”
She fished out a pierogi with her fingers and bit into it. “This is soooo good!”
Her enjoyment pleased Cam. “Tracie is a great cook. I think you should meet her sometime.”
“I’d love to. This beats the frozen Lean Cuisine I was planning on having tonight. Thank you.”
A smattering of drops hit the roof, then increased until the sound blurred into one continuous sizzle. The noise didn’t faze the lizards; they stayed curled up in their spots.
“Guess I’m not going anywhere for a while.” Cam seated himself on the short padded bench next to Sabrina. “There’s a couple chocolate cheesecake slices in there too. Tracie makes them with drizzle and chips on top. I thought since I didn’t have supper with you, I’d at least do dessert.”
Her eyes lit up at the wordcheesecake. “Cam, you just became my favorite. Want a cup of coffee?”
“Sounds good to me.”
She pulled down the small coffee maker and filled it from a half-empty five-gallon jug of water that sat in an alcove above the sink. A bowl of assorted pods came next. “Here, take your pick.”
Cam fished out a Sumatra while Sabrina popped in a Colombian. Soon the gurgling sounds started, and a rich coffee aroma filled the van’s interior.
“Thanks for coming to see me,” she said. “You really didn’t have to. I’ve survived worse things than being alone.”
He watched her fill her mug with the potent brew and prep for a second cup. “It’s not a problem. You sounded like you needed company, and I’m not at work for a change.” As the rain picked up in volume, his brain gave him a brilliant idea. “Since we’re gonna be stuck with each other for a while, wanna play a game?”
She pulled two forks from a drawer. “Sure. What game?”
“Truth or dare.”
She stopped and smiled. “Really? We used to play that in high school a bazillion years ago.”
“I’m feeling nostalgic.”
“Cream and sugar, sugar?”
“Black.”
She doctored hers before sitting back down on the bench. “Okay, I’ll start. Truth or dare?”
