The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Zane

Saturday afternoon

Laughter and loud voices filled my room like a damn locker room invasion. I was sprawled on my bed in nothing but sweatpants, back against the headboard, finally feeling like a human again instead of a fevered corpse. The worst of it was gone, but my friends still showed up like I’d been on my deathbed.

Tyler was raiding my mini-fridge, tossing a Gatorade to Jaxon, who caught it one-handed while scrolling through his phone. A couple of the other guys from the team-Erling, Cristiano, and Lionel-were sprawled across my gaming chairs and beanbag, controllers in hand, trash-talking each other over Madden.

“Bro, you missed practice yesterday,” Jaxon said, cracking open his drink. “Coach was pissed. Thought you were dying or some shit.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t,” I muttered, smirking. “Fever kicked my ass Thursday night. I’m good now.”

Tyler grinned like an idiot as he flopped onto the end of my bed. “So…” He dragged the word out, waggling his eyebrows. “Saw Astra heading out toward the gridiron earlier.”

I didn’t look up. “So?”

He smirked. “So… you fucked her yet?”

The room went quiet.

My head lifted slowly. “What did you just say?”

Tyler blinked. “…What?”

I set my phone down. “I said… what did you just say?”

Jaxon looked up immediately. “Uh-oh.”

Tyler laughed, still oblivious. “Dude, relax. I’m just asking. She’s been around here. Figured you hit it by now.”

“No.” I stood up, voice low. “You don’t talk about her like that.”

Tyler’s grin faltered. “I didn’t mean..”

“I don’t give a shit what you meant. She’s not one of your random hookups to joke about. Drop it.”

Tyler held both hands up. “Alright, alright. My bad.”

A beat of silence passed before Lion snorted. “You really asked Ashton if he’d slept with the girl he’s clearly obsessed with. | Bold.”

Cristiano shook his head, fighting a laugh. “Don’t you wanna keep your teeth intact, bro.”

That finally cracked the tension and laughter broke out again.

“Alright, alright,” Tyler said, rubbing the back of his neck. He pointed at me. “Astra’s officially off-limits. Got it.”

“Damn right,” I muttered, dropping back onto the bed.

Jaxon leaned back with a slow grin. “I’ve known this idiot for years. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him get pissed over the

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Chapter 113

way someone talked about a girl.”

Tyler’s eyes widened. “Oh… he’s “down bad”.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I said, but I couldn’t stop the smirk as I grabbed a controller. “Just play the damn game before I make you! all run suicides on Monday.”

About an hour later the house finally fell quiet. Tyler had been the last to leave, pointing at me as he backed out of the room.

“Don’t scare Astra off, Romeo.”

I shook my head, fighting a smile as I changed into a black T-shirt, dark jeans, and sneakers. I’was done lying in bed. I grabbed my keys and headed downstairs.

Mom looked up from the kitchen island. “You’re going out?”

“Just for a drive.”

She studied me. “You sure you’re feeling alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“… Take it easy.”

Five minutes later I slid behind the wheel. The engine rumbled to life. Instead of pulling out, I reached for my phone and opened our chat.

Zane: Hi.

Nothing.

I leaned back in the seat.

Five minutes later my phone buzzed.

Trouble: Hi.

One word. And I caught myself smiling like an idiot.

Bloody hell.

Zane: That’s all I get?

The typing bubble appeared, disappeared, then appeared again.

Trouble: What else were you expecting?

Zane: A little more enthusiasm would’ve been nice, Little Star.

Trouble:Little Star?

Zane:You heard me.

Trouble:Stop calling me that.

Zane: No.

Trouble: You’re annoying.

Chapter 113

I laughed under my breath.

Zane:And yet you’re still texting me.

Trouble: I’m on my break. Don’t let it get to your head.

Too late. It already had.

But the texting wasn’t enough. One “hi” from her and I was already itching to see her face. I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and shifted the car into drive.

The diner where she worked was only fifteen minutes away.

I pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine, scanning the front windows.

Just as I reached for the door handle, another car pulled in and It parked three spaces away.

Jason stepped out.

My smile vanished.

What the hell was he doing here?

The diner’s front door swung open and Astra hurried outside. The second she spotted him, her expression shifted to

concern.

“Jason?”

She walked toward him quickly. He didn’t smile or move closer like I expected. If anything, he took a step back.

Astra looked confused. “Jason… what’s wrong?”

He backed away again.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel.

She reached out instinctively. Jason flinched, the fucker ctually flinched. Then he pulled farther away.

Astra froze. Her hand slowly fell to her side. Even from here I could see the hurt spreading across her face.

What the fuck was going on?

Jason said something I couldn’t hear.

She stared at him as though he’d just said something she never thought she’d hear.

And for the first time since I’d known her…

She looked completely blindsided.

12:11 Fri, Jul 3