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 saw a plane flying low as it came in for a landing, it hit him that it could be Dustin soon. Shit.Dustin was a fucking pilot. And they were about to see his plane. Excitement ran through him as he turned into the gated entrance of the small airport.


He followed the long road that ran along the outer edge, passing a larger brick building with windows around three sides.


“That’s the main office building. They’ve got a lounge up front where a lot of old timers like to come out and just watch the planes.”


Dustin continued explaining as they drove.


“That small metal building by the main office is the fueling station.”


Rafael’s eyebrows raised upon seeing a series of old-fashioned gas pumps. “They don’t look much different than the ones for cars.”


“They’re not, really.” Then he pointed out the tower to the north. “This is a small airport, so there’s just one landing strip.”


Chapter 12