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

Why had it taken Dustin so long to see what was right in front of him for years? His chest tightened as he considered what he could’ve missed if he hadn’t finally realized those feelings for Raf weren’t just friendship. No, he truly loved him. Loved him like he’d never felt about anyone in his life. The morning’s panic was a hiccup and he felt silly for even worrying.


Dustin blinked at Raf, his cheeks heating. “I’m sorry. What did you ask?”


Raf looked at him strangely and raised an eyebrow. “I was just telling Mac that we’ll be ready for him to tow the plane to his shop by Tuesday.”


“Oh, yeah. I’m pretty sure.” He felt weird about turning over his plane to someone after spending so much time with it. It had begun to feel like a part of him.


Mac smiled like he knew exactly what he was thinking. “Don’t worry. We’ll take great care of her.”


Chapter 46