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

“Before I start the engine, I need to make sure the avionics are off, check all the circuit breakers. Next I check the electrical equipment, prime the engine two-to-three times, turn on the master switch and the beacon light.”


“It flashes red and it has to be on any time the engine’s running. It helps other planes see you in the air.”


That made sense. Most definitely a good thing.


Dustin put on his headset. “Ready?”


Rafael smiled, nervous, but absolutely ready to get started.


Dustin ran his hand over more switches before he gazed out the plane. “Clear,” he confirmed, referring to the propeller area. He turned the ignition key and the engine roared to life.


The sound reverberated through the cockpit, and Rafael grabbed the handle on the inside of the door.


Dustin laughed and shook his head, but his attention remained on the instrument panel as he flipped switches, and turned a few things. “Check one-two, check, check.”


Chapter 55