Rafael Patino has a great life in Rain Valley. He’s a teacher at the high school, has a great group of friends, and enjoys the occasional baseball game. Other than the sporadic call from his drunken mother, he’s pretty content. He’s also been in love with his best friend Dustin for nearly a decade. Years of keeping those feelings under control are put to the test when they begin a summer project together. Dustin Vance builds furniture for a living, has just earned his pilot’s license, and has an amazing best friend. When he buys a 1976 Cessna Skyhawk, he asks Rafael to help restore it, then travel with him to Wisconsin for the largest aviation convention in the world. As they spend their days working on the plane, they begin to spend their nights together. Will they find love in the clouds, or will they stall out before they even take off?

Love in the Clouds

“So, yeah, you can understand why I want to take care of this. Would it be possible for me to pay the fine? Keep Daisy’s name off the books?”


She waved her hand. “Honey, no worries. I’ve got a few new ones and I’ll just switch out the information. You can pick it up first thing in the morning.”


“That’s wonderful. Thanks, Martha.”


They chatted a few more minutes before he took off and headed home, stopping at the local pizza place and picking up a large ready-to-bake supreme.


Chapter 4