The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 111

Chapter III

Chapter 111

ASTRA

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I sighed, dragging a hand down my face, and glanced at Zane. He was glaring at Lucas like they were locked in some silent war only brothers understood.

This wasn’t supposed to be my problem. I was here for the twins.

“Zane,” I said gently, trying to shift. “I need to go with Lucas. He’s…”

“No.” His arm tightened around my waist, voice rough and low from the fever. He didn’t even look at me

Before I could respond, Lucas’s face lit up. “I’ll join you!”

He scrambled onto the bed and wedged himself against my other side, wrapping both arms around my waist like he’d just solved the world’s problems. “Now I’m not scared anymore.”

Zane stared at him. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

I closed my eyes.

This was my life now.

“Lucas, sweetie…” I tried. “Maybe you can sleep in your own bed tonight? You’re such a brave boy.”

“Nooo.”

He held on tighter.

“Zane gets to hold you.”

“Lucas…”

“It’s not fair.””

Zane looked far too pleased with himself for someone running a temperature.

“You’re being greedy,” Lucas accused, turning on his brother.

Zane blinked, genuinely offended. “What?”

Lucas stretched his arms dramatically wide, then pointed at Zane. “I’m only taking this much. You’re hogging the rest.”

A snort escaped me before I could stop it. Zane looked betrayed.

A soft knock sounded at the door. The room fell quiet.

A small head peeked in. Mason stood there clutching his stuffed shark, eyes darting from Lucas to me to Zane and back. His expression turned suspicious.

Zane muttered under his breath, “Oh no.”

“You guys are having a sleepover,” Mason declared.

Lucas brightened. “We are!”

Mason looked straight at me. “Astra.”

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I held out my hand. “Come here, baby.”

That was all it took. Mason climbed up and wedged himself between Lucas and me. The twins scooted closer, small determined limbs tangling around me until I was completely surrounded.

Zane’s eyes widened in horror as they slowly shoved him toward the edge of the mattress. “Are you kidding me?”

Neither twin acknowledged him.

Lucas rested his head on my shoulder. Mason claimed my other arm.

Zane’s eye twitched.

“Mason.”

No response.

“Mason Ashton.”

Mason finally glanced over. “What?”

“Move.”

Mason blinked, then calmly snuggled even closer to me. “No.”

Lucas gasped. “Mason said no to you.”

Zane’s expression darkened. “I heard him.”

The twins exchanged one of those silent, trouble-making looks. A tiny, smug smile tugged at Mason’s lips. Lucas copied it perfectly.

“No.” Zane warned.

“Yes,” Lucas whispered.

Mason hugged my arm tighter. “No.”

Laughter burst out of me. The twins beamed, clearly delighted with their victory.

Zane muttered darkly, “Fantastic. I’ve been overthrown.”

Lucas patted my arm reassuringly. “It’s okay, Zane. You can have Astra back tomorrow.”

Eventually the room grew quiet. The twins had worn themselves out. Lucas sprawled across my lap, his dinosaur plushie trapped under one arm. Mason curled tight against my side, still clutching his shark.

I’d spent the last half hour telling them the story of a dragon terrified of heights despite his enormous wings. By the end, both boys were fast asleep, breathing soft and even.

I smiled, gently brushing my fingers through Lucas’s hair, then Mason’s.

Warmth settled over me. Comfortable. Peaceful.

Then I looked

Zane had given up fighting for space. He sat against the headboard at the far end of the bed, one knee drawn up, phone in his hand. The twins had successfully exiled him to the corner.

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Chapter 111

“How do you feel now?” I asked quietly.

He glanced up. The fever still left a faint flush across his cheeks, but his eyes were clearer.

“Better.”

His gaze lingered on me, then on the sleeping twins, then back to me.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

I snorted. “You’re staring again.”

A lazy smile tugged at his mouth. He tossed the phone onto the nightstand.

“Can you blame me?”

My stomach did a small, traitorous flip.

“Yes.”

His smile widened. “No.”

I rolled my eyes.

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The room fell quiet again. Zane’s gaze dropped briefly to Lucas’s head in my lap, then to Mason curled against my side. When he looked back at me, something unreadable flickered across his face.

“I think I deserve compensation.”

I blinked. “For what?”

“They stole my spot.”

I nearly laughed. “Your spot?”

“Yeah.” He sounded completely serious. “I was here first.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“So I’ve been told.”

A pause.

Then..

“One kiss.”

My eyes widened. “Zane.”

“A tiny one.”

“No.”

“I’m recovering from a near-death experience.”

“You had the flu.”

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Chapter III

“It was traumatic.”

“It was a fever.”

“Still suffering.”

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Despite myself, I laughed. His gaze softened for the briefest second-that look that made my chest tighten-before the familiar smirk slid back into place.

“You know,” he said, voice low, “most people are nicer to sick people.”

1 arched a brow. “I spent hours taking care of you.”

His eyes stayed locked on mine. “Best part of my day.”

My breath caught.

For one second, neither of us looked away.

Then I grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face.

Zane caught the pillow effortlessly. The slow, wicked grin he gave me sent heat rushing through my chest.

I looked away first, heart still banging, as he pushed himself upright with a quiet groan.

“Where are you going?” I whispered.

“Shower.”

I eyed him. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Relax, Trouble. I’m not gonna die.”

“That’s exactly what people say right before they do something stupid.”

He huffed out a laugh and disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later, the steady rush of water filled the air.

I glanced down at the twins and a soft smile pulled at my lips as I carefully slipped free.

Lucas mumbled something incoherent when I lifted him. For such a small kid, he was surprisingly heavy. I carried him down the hall to the twins’ room, tucked him in, and nestled his dinosaur plushie beside him. The second his head hit the pillow, he let out a contented sigh.

I slipped back to Zane’s room and repeated the process with Mason. He stirred as I picked him up, blinking sleepily.

“Astra?”

“I’m here, baby.”

He relaxed instantly, minutes later he was tucked safely beside his brother, shark plushie clutched to his chest.

I lingered in the doorway, watching them, Lucas snoring softly, Mason curled small and peaceful under the blankets. Warmth bloomed in my chest. I switched off the light, closed the door with a quiet click, and started back down the hall.

The shower was still running when I reached Zane’s room. Good. He was up and moving. I paused outside the door, debating whether to wait, then shook my head.

He will survive five minutes without supervision.

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I turned toward my own room.

The mansion lay hushed around me.

Then…

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THUD.

I froze mid-step.

The sound came from downstairs. Heavy and solid. Like something large had hit the floor.

My pulse spiked.

Silence swallowed the house again.

Then another noise drifted up-subtle, but deliberate. Definitely not the house settling.

I stared down into the dark stairwell, every nerve suddenly on edge. Slowly, I took a step forward. Then another.

The silence waiting below felt far more dangerous than the sound itself.

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