Chapter 16: The Feast

*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 touching.

“I am so ready!” Mira smiled, her emerald green eyes sparkling with excitement. Seeing her so joyful pleased me, but it also filled me with an ache that I struggled to bury.