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

Raf also seemed to realize their intimate contact, his eyes slowly widening.


Dustin raked his hands through his hair. “Fuck, Raf.”


His friend pulled himself into a sitting position and leaned against the navy blue padded headboard. “First of all, calm down. Nothing happened. Secondly, it’s no big deal that we…cuddled.” He gestured between them.


“What the fuck ever…you know what I mean,” Raf growled. “It’s no big deal. We were asleep.”


A huge weight lifted as Dustin realized they would be okay. He hadn’t gotten too drunk and made a pass at his best friend. He hadn’t fucked up the best friendship of his life. He couldn’t hold back the smirk, though. “But seriously, man. Cuddled? That’s too fucking cute.”


Raf frowned and climbed out of bed, ignoring Dustin’s teasing. “I’m going to drive you to your car so you can head home and get ready to go to the airport.”


Chapter 9