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

When he entered Jack’s, he glanced around, quickly realizing his friends weren’t there. His brow furrowed in confusion. He’d seen Raf’s Silverado in the parking lot.


Jack caught his eye near the bar and waved him over.


“Hey, Dustin.” Jack clapped him on the shoulder. “Follow me. I put your group in the back room because there are so many of you tonight.”


“Oh, great. I was wondering.” He followed Jack to the room generally reserved for private parties, although he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen it used.


Jack pushed open the swinging door, sweeping out his hand for Dustin to enter first.


“Surprise!” a variety of voices sang out in chorus.


Chapter 7