The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Zane

She wouldn’t look at me.

That cut deeper than it should have.

This morning I’d expected the usual: her in the kitchen, pestering one of the twins to finish breakfast before the bus, on perched at the island pretending not to wait for me. The reluctant eye-roll when I appeared and that husky “Good morning that always sounded annoyed and secretly pleased.

Instead the house felt hollow.

“Dad already left with Miss Astra, young master.”

The words landed like a gut punch. My father didn’t drive anyone. Ever. The thought had festered in my chest all day like a jagged rock.

By first period her seat was empty. Second, nothing. I’d torn through the cafeteria, library, courtyard-sun beating down on dying grass-then faked paperwork at admin just to scan the halls.

She’d vanished.

Trouble didn’t skip. Which meant she was avoiding me.

Which meant Dad had gotten to her.

My teeth ground together when I finally spotted her pressed against the hallway wall, arms wrapped tight like she could hold herself together by force alone. Lockers slammed around us. Sneakers squeaked. The greasy-sweet stench of cafeteria pizza drifted past, but all I registered was the heavy thud of my own heartbeat.

“Astra.”

Her gaze stayed fixed over my shoulder, fluorescent lights catching the redness rimming those pretty blue eyes.

I stepped closer. Her faint strawberry scent cut through the hallway stink. “What did he say to you?”

Her lashes fluttered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit.” The word came out too sharp.

She flinched. Fingers dug deeper into her own arms, knuckles white.

“You’ve spent the entire morning running from me.”

“I had committee work.” Her tongue darted out to wet her lips.

I let out a low, humorless laugh. “Right.”

Silence thickened between us as the crowd thinned, voices fading. She finally glanced up-just a second-but it hit like a fist. Glassy eyes, rimmed pink. She’d been crying.

The sight twisted something ugly in my chest.

“What did he say?” I asked, softer, fighting the rage boiling under my skin.

“He didn’t-”

1

Chapter 122

“Don’t.” My voice dropped to a growl. “Don’t lie to me, Trouble.”

Her lips parted, then pressed tight. I watched her throat bob, her chest rising and falling too fast beneath her blouse

“He was just… looking out for me.”

Every muscle in my body went rigid. “What the hell does that mean?”

She shook her head, curls brushing her checks. “I can’t.”

“Can’t…” Heat crawled up my neck. “Or won’t?”

“I don’t want to do this,” she whispered, arms tightening around herself. A faint tremble ran through her frame.

“Neither do I.” The lie burned. I’d burn the whole school down if it stopped her from looking at me like I was poison. “1 think we should keep our distance.”

The words slammed into me. For a second the hallway noise dulled to nothing.

“My father told you that.”

She didn’t deny it. Lashes damp, she looked away.

A slow, dangerous smile curved my mouth. Heat flared low and possessive in my veins. “So that’s his move. He thinks he can scare you off.”

I leaned in, thumb brushing the frantic pulse at her inner wrist. “Tell me, Trouble., are you staying away because you want to?” Her shiver shot straight up my arm like lightning. “Or because my father told you to?”

Heads were turning. Juniors slowing down, phones half-raised. Whispers spreading.

Fuck that.

I gripped her elbow-firm, careful-and steered her down the side hall before anyone could snap a photo. “Come on

“Zane…no.” She tried to dig her heels in, voice breathless, but I didn’t stop. The old storage room near the theater wing was unlocked like always. I pushed the door open, hinges creaking, and pulled her inside.

The door clicked shut behind us, sealing us in.

She backed up until her shoulders hit the metal shelving. “We can’t…”

“We are.” I closed the distance, planting one hand beside her head. “Look at me.”

Those enthralling blue eyes finally locked on mine. My gaze dropped to her trembling lips. So plump and begging to be ravished.

God, I wanted her. The kind of raw, destructive want that frayed every edge of my control.

“I’m not scared of him,” I said, knuckles brushing a curl off her fever-warm cheek. “Whatever he fed you about me ruming you-he’s wrong.”

“He wasn’t wrong about everything.” Her voice shook. “You’re chaos. You push and take and-”

“I take what’s mine.” I leaned in until our foreheads nearly touched, her strawberry scent wrapping around me like a drug. “And you’ve been mine since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “You’ve lost your mind.”

1

Chapter 122

“Yeah?” My lips hovered above hers, so close I tasted mint on her breath. “Then push me away. Tell me you don’t feel this My thumb traced her quivering lower lip. “Tell me my father’s the only reason your heart’s pounding like it wants out of your chest.”

She didn’t push. Her hands fisted in my shirt instead, twisting the fabric like she was torn between pulling me in and shoving me back. Her body arched toward mine.

The tension crackled, thick and electric. Footsteps echoed in the hall outside. Voices laughing. Any second someone could try the door. The risk only made it hotter.

I cupped her jaw, tilting her face up. “Say it again and I’ll stop. But you have to mean it.”

Her eyes fluttered behind her glasses, dark lashes brushing her cheeks. The world narrowed to the burning space between our mouths.

Then she jerked her face to the side. “Just stay away from me. There are so many girls who’d kill to be in your bed, Zane. Go find one. Leave me alone.”

The words slapped hard, but they only fed the fire.

She tried to slip past me.

I caught her wrist and yanked her back, spinning her so her front pressed against the cold metal shelf. My chest pinned her from behind-careful, but unyielding. One arm locked around her waist. My other hand slid up, fingers wrapping firmly around the front of her throat, feeling that wild pulse flutter against my palm.

I buried my face in the curve of her neck, breathing her in-strawberries, salt from dried tears, that sweet addictive warmth that was only her.

“You think I want them?” I growled against her racing pulse, lips brushing sensitive skin. Teeth grazed lightly. “You think any of those girls could make me lose my fucking mind the way you do?”

She trembled, a soft broken sound escaping her. Her knuckles turned white gripping the shelf.

“Zane… please,” she whispered, voice shaking. “Let me go.”

I tightened my hold on her throat just enough to tilt her head back, lips dragging along the shell of her car. “No.”

My voice came out rough, dark, raw. “I’m done pretending. You’re in my head every second. The only one I see. The only one I want. And I’m not letting my father or anyone else-take you from me!

Her breathing turned ragged, chest heaving against my arm. I pressed harder into her neck, inhaling deep like she was the only air I needed.

“You can tell me to stay away all you want, Trouble.” My hips shifted, just enough for her to feel exactly what she did to me “But your body doesn’t lie. It never has.”

She whimpered softly, the sound shooting straight through me.

The tension between us was unbearable now-thick, burning, ready to snap.

And this time, I wasn’t letting her run.

1

12:13 Fri, Jul 31