Wingless, book 1 of Wingless Series

These shoes

Piper Valley is a gated community. Newly renovated, it hasn't been here for more than a year.

It has charm. The houses are smaller and more modest than Carlo's neighborhood. But it's still an impressive place to call home.

It's a world like no other inside the gates of Piper Valley.

There are stores and boutiques and fancy dining restaurants, even a bowling alley and movie theatre all on the inside just for the residents.

We all are happy to be there; even Ari's mood changed as soon as we got to Piper.

Evan pats my leg, as I take in our new neighborhood. I am dying to see anyone that can shine a little light on what I have to look forward to.

I notice the green well-manicured grass as we pull into our driveway.

"Dewless Lane," I say out loud reading the sign.

Evan gets out of the truck. He raises his arms above his head having a good stretch.

As soon as Ari climbs out Kenny is pulling into the driveway. And Mark right behind him.

"So? What do you think?" Mark asks, grazing my arm with the tips of his fingers.

"It looks very nice." I nod.

"You seem unsure," he says, noticing my nervous habit. I stop biting my lip.

"She'll be fine," Evan interrupts, his arm wrapping around me.

"I'll be fine," I assure them both, they are making me nervous. And I don't want to be.

"You ready to see inside?" he asks me.

The house is a beautiful ranch style home, with two picture windows in the front facing the street.

Evan picks me up and unlocks the door. It's our moment, and he is making the most of it.

"You're such a dork," I tell him as we make it through the door.

"It's romantic, deal with it."

It's nice. The kitchen is bright yellow with light oak cabinets and wood floors to match. All white appliances and countertops. And a vase of lilies sitting in the middle of the kitchen table adds the perfect touch.

I touch the island, the same one I always wish for in my dream kitchen. It is quaint and feels more like home than I knew that it would.

"Well, what do you think so far?" Evan asks, watching me touch the flowers and then the fruit basket.

"I like it." I open the refrigerator.

"Okay, let's go to the next room," he says dragging me away from the food.

The living room is amazing. Dark red walls with a black trim, the furniture is a cushy black overstuffed sectional. There is a fireplace made of black marble with a large plasma screen TV hanging above it.

Evan moves me to the fireplace. There are several framed pictures. I gasp when I see that each is of us.

"How did you do that?" I ask, covering my mouth.

I pick the first one up. It is me and him at Carlo's on my birthday. My cheeks are pink, from shock, I think. Evan looks as handsome as always, his perfect smile, his messy hair. The other pictures are ones we took at the old house messing around.

It's starting to feel like it's meant to be.

"I hope you like the place. My dad made me talk to his decorator so it would be ready before we got here," he says, opening the blinds letting the sun come in.