*Later that evening…*
*TRAE'S POV*
The anticipation of the town feast hummed in the air as I made my way to pick up Mira. As I scaled the steps I reminded myself to keep a safe distance from her after the t-shirt incident. I'm her protector, not her suitor, I repeated to myself silently.
But as I reached the last step, my breath caught in my throat at the sight of her. Mira was seated on the front porch beside Grayson and her friend Jane in a white cotton summer dress that hugged her curves. The vibrant summer sunset cast a golden glow upon her creating an ethereal atmosphere that left me breathless.
"Ready to go?" I managed to utter, my voice betraying the subtle tremor that had taken hold of me.
I noticed that Jane was seated rather closely to Grayson, their shoulders almost touchi
