Raf shrugged. “But we can’t keep an eye on her over the summer. I tried to get her to open up again today, asking if she was getting a summer job, but she didn’t really talk. It’s almost like speaking to others is too difficult for her. I doubt she’s in therapy, but she needs to be. Needs to be taking some social skills classes, too.” He sighed and shook his head.
Dustin squeezed his shoulder again. “Not to sound stupid, but what are social skills classes?”
“They’re for kids that struggle with social situations, or understanding social cues.”
“Like they don’t ‘read the room’?”
“That’s a good way to say it. Some of them don’t recognize sarcasm. They may not understand someone is making fun of them, but most of them get that. For instance, you and I can tell when someone is frowning at us after we say something, which tells us they didn’t like what was said. But some kids don’t even recognize they’re being frowned at, or if they do, they don’t know why. But with Da—I mean, with this girl—she just seems to have a lot of anxiety and can’t speak around the other kids. She needs a friend. She’s wicked brilliant, but awkward. Seriously, straight As and college-level writing.”
“We’re all kind of awkward in high school, though. I certainly was.”
“Yes, you recently told me you were shy, which surprised me.”
“When I started college, I worked hard to be the man I wanted to be. You helped a lot by just being my friend. You gave me confidence…kind of like you shared it with me, if that makes sense?”
“Thanks, Dusty. But really it was probably the other way around. Once you came into my life, things changed for me. You kind of saved me from myself.”
Brown eyes met aquamarine and they stared quietly, their confessions sinking in. The air grew thick between them and neither looked away until “Sidekick” by Walk the Moon began to play, filling the hangar with a fun beat.
Dustin looked away first, laughing. “Well, I hope you’re right, Raf. I’ve got a date tonight and I’m hoping he’s ‘drawn to me.’”
Raf’s face paled.
“What?” Dustin scrunched his brow, nerves jangling.
“I didn’t know you had a date.” Raf’s voice sounded weirdly flat.
Dustin shuffled his feet as Raf scrutinized him. He felt open and vulnerable for some odd reason, and the need to explain rushed through him and had him nearly tripping over his words. “It’s a blind date. Jack set it up. His cousin Conner is in town. We’re meeting for dinner and seeing how it goes. It’s not a big deal.” But it kind of was. Because looking into Raf’s gorgeous brown eyes reminded him he needed to get laid and get this new infatuation out of his system.
Raf stayed silent, but his eyes stayed on his until Dustin couldn’t remain still. He finally backed away and pasted on a smile. “Grab that felt strip and let’s see if we can get the window sealed.”
His best friend nodded, and in just a few minutes, they entered the plane’s cabin, Raf in the passenger seat, Dustin in the pilot’s seat. Working together, they completed their task in a fairly short time, but as they chatted about the next repairs Dustin wanted to tackle, he realized he should’ve left the airport at least twenty minutes earlier.
When they left, Raf offered him a tight smile. Dustin noticed he didn’t wish him luck on his date.
By the time he got home, Dustin had less than thirty minutes to get ready and over to Fisher’s Bar and Grill. Jack had sent him Conner’s number, so he texted he could be a few minutes late and rushed around the house like a chicken with his head cut off.
He arrived only two minutes late and saw a platinum blond guy waving at him, a big smile on his face. Definitely cute, but so not his type. And yeah, he knew that made him sound like a shallow asshole.
The guy stood up and gave him a hug-pat. Conner couldn’t have been taller than five-four. He wore his hair in a Justin Bieber style, which really shouldn’t have surprised Dustin, considering the guy also wore a purple Bieber T-shirt. Bright green eyes gazed at him, gliding down and up his body, and something about the way they looked at each other as they sat down made them both laugh.
“Not doing it for you, huh?” Dustin asked cheekily.
Conner raised his eyebrows and smirked. “I’m thinking the same thing about you. Twinks not your thing?”
Heat filled his cheeks. “I wouldn’t call you…I mean…”
“Hey, it’s the look I go for, so you’re not hurting my feelings.” Conner smiled.
Dustin chuckled. “You still want to grab dinner?”
“Why not? We can still make a night of it.”
A waitress with bright pink hair in a ponytail appeared with menus and asked what they wanted to drink. Each of them ordered a beer, and by the time she returned with their drinks, they were ready to order. Fisher’s mainly offered basic bar and grill food—burgers, nachos, chicken tenders—so Dustin ordered his favorite burger with blue cheese and bacon.
“So, Jack says you make furniture?”
“Desks, chairs, tables…I’ll design anything to order.”
“How’d you get into that?”
“I’ve always liked building things, but I never really thought of it as a career until I was in my senior year of college. I was majoring in business and wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with it. Not even sure why I’d chosen the major, other than I had to declare one and I’d always been good with numbers. But I still made furniture as a hobby and someone saw a buffet table I’d built for my aunt. Long story short, they have a store near Branson and they started taking furniture on consignment. Now I also take orders.”
“Wow. So, did you finish college?”
“Yeah, I was already there, so why not get the degree? Plus I wasn’t sure if making furniture was the smartest move. At the time, I had no idea if it would pan out. I’m lucky it did.”
“That’s awesome. I’d love to have a passion like that. Well, one I can advertise, that is.” Conner waggled his eyebrows and shot him a cheesy grin.
Dustin laughed and leaned back in his chair as the waitress reappeared and set down their plates. His burger looked awesome, and when he took a bite of the seasoned fries, he nearly moaned out loud.
“You going to have an orgasm in public? Maybe we were too hasty about our first impressions.”
He gaped at Conner until he realized the guy was teasing. “Honestly, it makes me feel kind of shallow. Judging you by your looks. You seem like a great guy.”
“I did the same. If you’d been built like a football player and had a few scars, maybe a military cut, I’d have been all over you.”
“You like the big ones, huh?”
“In all areas.”
Dustin nearly choked on his burger and gulped some beer. “Shit. The things you say!”
Conner shrugged. “I can’t help it. I know what I like. Now if I could just find one that’s looking for me.”
“I hear you. I’ve been swinging and missing for months.” He cocked his head. “I meant what I said. You seem like a great guy. Funny. Cute. Sexy. What do you do for a living? Jack said you were here for a conference, right?”
“Yeah. But it ended today. I’m staying a couple more days. It was the most boring thing I’ve ever attended. Sometimes I hate adulting. I work in IT for a medical company and we’re installing a completely new database. Trying to ensure it’s all HIPAA compliant and get the changes we require for our needs. So I was sent to learn more about it before we start the install. It’s going to be a freaking nightmare.”
Dustin visibly shuddered. “I’m good on my laptop and my QuickBooks software, but anything like that? God, no.”
Conversation continued to flow easily as they ate. After a short while, Conner changed the subject. “So you know my type. What’s yours?”
An image of Raf flashed in Dustin’s mind and he felt the blush crawl across his face.
Conner pointed a french fry at him. “Oh, my God! You already have your eye on someone.”
Dustin blanched, staring at his half-eaten dinner. “Not really. I mean…well, fuck, I don’t even know anymore.” He raked a hand through his hair.
“Let me guess—he doesn’t know you’re alive? What—he doesn’t have eyes? Because you’re seriously hot. You have that whole ‘carefree, I-know-I’m-sexy, fuck-you-into-the-mattress’ thing going on.”
“Jesus Christ, Conner!” He glanced around, hoping no one had heard him.
He grinned. “Oh, are you the one looking to be fucked into the mattress? Sorry. I don’t have much of a filter.”
Dustin chuckled, then drew a deep breath. Maybe talking about how he’d been feeling with someone impartial would help. He took another sip of beer and set down his glass. “No, he definitely knows I’m alive. He’s…he’s my best friend. Raf and I have been best friends for years.”
“Oh, God, is he straight? Please don’t tell me you’re that guy—the stereotypical guy that always falls for the straight boy.”
He shook his head. “In high school, maybe, but not now. No, he’s gay. And until I saw him in a fucking towel the other night, I’d really never thought of him like that. I mean, he’s sexy. He’s incredibly smart. And he has this heart…he cares so much for his students. And his friends.” He met Conner’s wide-eyed gaze and furrowed his brow. “What?”
“Dude…” Conner shook his head and his bangs swished across his forehead. “You should have seen your face when you were talking about him. You’ve got it bad. Which makes me wonder, why the hell did you agree to this date?”
Busted. Crap.
“I thought I could get him out of my mind. It was a sucky thing to do.”
“You set us up to fail. But I get it. I would’ve probably done the same thing. Have you told him how you feel?”
“Of course not. He doesn’t feel the same way. I’m sure of it. And besides that, maybe it’s just a phase. I mean, we’ve been friends for years—since our freshman year of college. If I lost him as a friend, I…I don’t know what I’d do.”
“The only way you’re going to find out is to tell him.”
Dustin thought about that as he continued eating. He knew Conner was right, but it couldn’t be as simple as that.
“Oh! I almost forgot. Jack asked me to give you this.” He handed Dustin a yellow envelope with his name written on the front.
He instantly recognized the writing. It was Raf’s. “Thanks. Jack told me he found it.”
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
Dustin wavered, unsure if he wanted to in front of Conner, but then thought he was just being silly. “Of course.” He slid out the card, smiling at the cartoon image of a plane. He opened it and his breath caught.
Dusty,
I’m so proud of you. I can’t wait to soar above the clouds with you. We’ll make a great team!
Love,
Raf
Dustin knew he was probably reading too much into the words, but Raf had given him many cards over the years and not once had he signed it “Love, Raf.” He set it to the side and tried not to overthink it.
He and Conner lingered over dinner, talking and laughing, and by the time they parted ways, Dustin knew he’d made a new friend. Conner seemed the kind of guy always ready for the next adventure. A lot like himself, really. Conner would be coming back in a few weeks for a family wedding, so they made plans to get together again.
The evening may not have played out like he’d wanted, but he still had a good time. Unfortunately, the second he slid into bed and closed his eyes, Raf’s face flashed in his mind and his dick reacted.
What the hell was wrong with him? They were friends. Best friends. Yet he still wrapped his fingers around his shaft, stroking lazily.
Something told him that Raf was probably commanding in the bedroom. He let his imagination wander as his cock throbbed. A strong, assertive man turned his crank. He could totally envision Raf ordering him to his knees. Shit, the idea of doing what Raf demanded made his body vibrate with desire.
In the end, he gave into the fantasy and let himself go to a place he’d never considered until recently. He came hard and fast, the vision of Raf pushing him over the edge.
Feeling slightly guilty, he drifted off to sleep, Raf still on his mind and the card propped up on his nightstand.
Chapter 5
Rafael
When he’d found out Dustin had a date that evening, his heart had plummeted. He wasn’t sure why it bothered him more than normal. Perhaps all the time they’d spent together at the hangar had pushed all his emotions to the surface, because he felt open and raw when he thought about Dustin with another man. Obviously, Dustin had dated over the years. He was sexy, fun, and really cared about people. Friends, strangers, it didn’t matter to Dustin—he was there to help anyone.
But this time it hurt. He’d let himself pretend they were growing closer. That maybe Dustin could see him as more than a friend. He’d been playing a dangerous game and hadn’t realized how close he’d gotten to the line.
He needed to go out. Do something. When Caleb texted, asking if he was coming to Jack’s, he decided that was just what he needed, and thirty minutes later, he entered the bar.
Caleb waved from a table near the back. The bar wasn’t as full as usual and Rafael wondered if it had anything to do with summer break starting. A lot of people scheduled their vacations at the end of the school year.
He grabbed the empty chair next to Caleb. Lucas sat across from them beside Russell, drinking one of his beloved margaritas.
“Hey,” he greeted everyone.
A baseball game played on the corner TV, but Rafael had trouble relaxing. He ordered a beer, but when it came, he spent more time tearing off the label than drinking.
Caleb finally leaned toward him. “Out with it, Rafael.”
His first instinct was to brush off the question, play like he was fine. But the idea that talking it over with someone could help soon crossed his mind. His shoulders sagged and he sighed. “Dusty’s on a date.”
His friend sipped his beer, then set it down. “And you’re upset because you finally realized you have feelings for him?”
Rafael shook his head. “Not exactly. I’ve…had feelings for him for years. I just never told anyone.”
Caleb crossed his arms. “I hate to break it to you, but it’s not a secret.”
He arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I already told you that you guys are as good as married. And shit, the way you two look at each other…most people think you guys are already dating.” He shook his head. “Let’s just say anyone in the same area can feel the heat between you two.”
Lucas joined the conversation. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but he’s right. The sexual tension between you two is hot!” He fanned his face with his hand.
“I’m going to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong,” Caleb said. “Tell Dustin. Get it out in the open. Deal with it.”
Russell grinned, also joining in. “I agree. We’ve been expecting it for years. Tell Dustin how you feel.”
Rafael wanted to do just that, but the fear of losing Dustin always overwhelmed him. He held his beer with both hands, rotating it slowly. “You guys are probably right. But I’m not sure I’m ready.” He knew he sounded pathetic—and apparently sucked at hiding his feelings.
The guys dropped the subject, then Russell and Lucas went to play a game of pool. Caleb and Rafael watched the game for a while, but after hanging out for another thirty minutes, he decided to throw in the towel and go home to wallow in his misery.
His big Friday night at home consisted of a rerun of The Orville and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Unfortunately, sleep did not come easily, and moments after it finally did, his phone rang. He answered, trying to wipe the fogginess from his brain.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Patino?”
He glanced at the alarm clock and wondered who the hell would be calling him at midnight and referring
to him as Mr. anything. “Yes. Who is this?” His voice came out harsher than he meant, but shit, he wasn’t in a good mood and he was tired.
“I’m Elaine Oliver. I’m a social worker with the Missouri Department of Social Services…the Children’s Division. I apologize for the late hour, but I’m at Rain Valley General and we have a Daisy Warner here in the ER.”
That got his attention. He sat up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. His heart raced and his belly dropped. “Oh, God. Is she okay?” That was a stupid question. Of course she wasn’t if she was in the hospital. He leaned his elbows onto his knees and hung his head.
A sigh came through the phone. “She was found at the high school…barefoot. I’m sorry, but that’s all I can say right now. You’re not a relative, but she is refusing to talk to anyone or let anyone examine her unless you’re here. She screamed when we asked for her mother’s number and keeps saying ‘Mr. Patino understands.’”
Shit. He did understand. At least partially. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” They agreed to meet in the ER waiting room before he hung up.
Rafael threw on some jeans and a T-shirt. He was glad he hadn’t drowned his sorrows in too much alcohol earlier. He couldn’t let Daisy down.
He drove with the windows open, letting in the cool night air, not bothering with the radio. Empty streets cut his usual driving time across town in half, but it also could have had something to do with the fact that his foot barely left the gas pedal.
Rain Valley General was a midsize hospital, built just a few years ago when the city decided the cost to update the old one was too much and opted to erect a new one on a plot of land they already owned. The redbrick building was only four levels, but he knew from experience they had high quality equipment and a crackerjack staff. Just last year, he’d ridden in an ambulance after being in a three-car pileup on the highway. He’d broken his arm and banged up his head, but he’d received top-notch care at the hospital.
As the automatic doors slid open, he stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the large waiting area. A petite middle-aged blonde woman, in black slacks, a pink blouse, and a long pearl necklace—pearls at midnight?—approached him.
Love in the Clouds Page 5