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

He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Finding out Dustin had a date seemed trivial in comparison to what Daisy was going through and he felt chagrined at his jealousy. Even if that jealousy was still alive and strong in him even now.


Time passed slowly. He got a Dr Pepper from the vending machine and hoped the caffeine would give him a jolt. The TV on the far wall played the same annoying Rain Valley General information screen, followed by a series of panels discussing the various departments. What he wouldn’t give for a baseball game or even the news, as depressing as that was nowadays.


Two police officers showed up, and a nurse ushered them through the same swinging doors. Rafael’s concern grew the longer he waited.


Chapter 21