Rock Candy

by Giselle Fox

  “Okay, we’ve got about sixty miles until the Grand Canyon turn off,” she said as she looked up. “We should probably stop for gas and water at the next service station.”

  “Roger that,” I said and rested my hand on her thigh.

  Candy’s eyes fell to the two little statues that sat on the dash and smiled. There was a lifetime achievement award with my name on it, and an artist of the year award with her name inscribed. Our fancy clothes hung on hooks in the back windows to make a little shade for Skip. The ceremony in San Francisco had been great fun for both of us, but watching her walk up on stage and receive her little trophy had been by far the best part.

  My phone buzzed on the seat beside me. I glanced down at the number and saw that it was the shop. “Can you grab that?”

  She picked up the phone and answered. “Hi Shep. How’s everything going?”

  “Put him on speaker,” I whispered.

  “Hello, ladies.” Skip began to wag his tail and then he barked. “Hey, Buddy! Are you on the road? It sounds windy.”

  “Yep,” I said. “Just heading over to see the Grand Canyon before we turn back.”

  “Cool! I won’t keep you. Just wanted to let you know that I heard back from Jackpike and they want the line in all fifty of their stores.”

  Candy clapped her hands.

  “That’s great news,” I said.

  “So we’re going to have to scale up production. I’ve talked to the factory already. They’re on board.”

  “Fantastic,” I said.

  “Oh,” he chuckled. “Christa called,”

  Candy grinned at me and shook her head.

  “Oh yeah?” I said, “what did she want?”

  “To invite you both to a dance that she and Sam are having at Slick. I told her you were out of town but I’d give you the message.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “How’s everything else? Jamie must be getting excited for your trip. When do you leave?”

  “The day after you get back. You are coming back, right?”

  “Yes, we’re coming back.”

  “Great. Have fun, don’t think about work, it’s all taken care of.”

  “Alright, we won’t,” I said.

  “Bring me back a rock from the canyon. It’s on my bucket list.”

  “I will,” I said and winked at Candy.

  “Okay talk to you both later. Bye Skip!”

  “See ya!”

  About ten miles down the highway we saw a gas station in the distance. There was a single dusty sign out front that hung a little lower on one side. “Well, they had gas at one point in time. Let’s see if they do now.”

  “Look at this place,” Candy said.

  “It’s open. I see someone in the garage,” I said.

  Skip stood up in the back seat and poked his nose out my window. “What do you think, Skip?” His nose twitched in the air.

  Had it not been the middle of the afternoon, the place would have given me the creeps. In the sun, it looked like a beautiful throwback from another generation. The asphalt was cracked and pitted and drifts of red and yellow sand swirled like tornadoes in the breeze. I pulled around the pumps and parked beside one marked unleaded. Strung between the old lampposts on either side was a row of animal skulls bleached white by the desert sun. I looked over at the garage and saw an older fellow step out and wipe his hands on a dirty rag. He waved and then went back inside.

  “I guess we’re in luck,” I said.

  When I turned off the truck I noticed Candy had grown quiet. She took off her sunglasses and opened her door slowly.

  “I’ll fill up,” I said. “Why don’t you take Skip for a wee by those bushes.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly.

  We both got out. Candy let Skip out of the back. “C’mon buddy, let’s go for a sniff.”

  I watched them walk across the dusty station. Candy pulled her hair up into a ponytail and called for Skip to stay close as another car pulled in.

  I looked up at all the skulls dangling above me: the broken bodies of birds, vertebrae of larger animals, rodents, and snakes. They were beautiful, delicate and macabre all at once. I looked back at Candy as she and Skip stepped over a chunk of broken concrete into the sagebrush beyond.

  It won’t be long before the desert swallows this place, I thought to myself. As I stood there, I could see it moving in on all sides. The sand had blasted the gas pumps for so long that they’d rusted into the colors of the earth.

  Candy looked up at me and smiled. She was the love of my life, my princess, and my queen. She was my teacher and my soul mate, my lover and my friend. Her smile beamed at me across the sandy pavement, her beautiful Pacific-blue eyes were watery and cool against the arid landscape around her. Skip sniffed happily and marked his spots while we both watched each other from a distance. At that moment something about it all felt familiar.

  Candy began to laugh. Her hands went up to her face and she laughed again. Then she wiped her joyful tears away and smiled at me lovingly. Suddenly I remembered the afternoon when we were lying in each other’s arms; when days after meeting, she’d told me about her dream. Her beautiful voice echoed through my mind and I began to laugh too.

  The pump clicked off when the tank was full. Skip finished sniffing and marking his place on the desert sand. Candy walked back to the truck and he followed beside her. When she wrapped her arms around me and kissed me as the desert wind blew, I knew deep in my soul that our beautiful future had arrived.

  Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review.

  Other Books by Giselle Fox:

  Rare and Beautiful Things

  Slow Burn in Tuscany

  Claire and the Lady Billionaire Series:

  This is an ongoing series of steamy contemporary lesbian romance featuring one of my favorite couples, Claire and Camille. Please check them out!

  Part One

  Part Two

  Part Three

  Part Four

  Part Five

  Giselle Fox Amazon Author Page

  Giselle Fox on Facebook

  Gisellefox.com