The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Chapter 124

ASTRA

“Astra… Astra… Astra!”

I snapped out of it, blinking rapidly as Chloe’s voice cut through the fog in my head.

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I was sitting in the cafeteria, tray untouched in front of me. Chloe and Priya were seated across from me, both staring with worried expressions.

“What’s wrong with you?” Priya asked, leaning forward. “You’ve been spacing out for like five minutes straight.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a small smile. “Just tired..”

Chloe narrowed her eyes. “You sure? Your face is all red and flustered. Like you just ran a marathon or something.” /

I felt my cheeks burn hotter. I grabbed them with both hands, trying to cool them down.

“R-really?” I laughed nervously. “It’s just hot in here, isn’t it?”

The girls exchanged a look.

Priya raised an eyebrow. “It’s freezing with the AC blasting.”

I looked down at my tray, pushing a fry around with my finger.

I couldn’t tell them. How could I? That barely ten minutes ago I had run away from Zane Ashton after he’d given me the first orgasm of my life in the storage room.

I had squirted. On his hand. I still couldn’t believe my body had done that. I was still throbbing, panties damp, thighs sticky, mind replaying the way his fingers had felt, the way he’d licked them clean like I was the best thing he’d ever tasted.

I was a mess.

“Look over there,” Priya said after a moment.

I frowned and turned in the direction she was pointing.

My stomach sank.

Jason

He was sitting a few tables away with Maya and her two cronies. He was laughing at something Maya said, head tilted back.

While Maya was being extra handsy, twirling her long dark hair, leaning into him, touching his arm like she owned the right.

He didn’t even glance in my direction.

Chloe’s voice softened. “Is something up with you and Jason?”

I looked away fast, throat tight. “We… we broke up.”

Priya’s eyes widened. “What? When?”

“On Sunday.”

Chloe reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “No wonder you’ve been spacing out. What happened?”

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12:13 Fri, Jul 3

Chapter 124

I shook my head, not trusting my voice.

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Priya looked furious. “Of course that snake Maya is already sinking her nasty nails into him. Look at her, practically sitting on his lap.”

Chloe frowned, poking at her salad. “Why would he even go to Maya? He knows how awful she is. It makes zero sense.”

I glanced back at their table before I could stop myself.

Maya was already staring straight at me.

The second our eyes met, her lips curved into this slow, smug smile that turned my stomach. It hit me like ice water.

She was the one. She’d given Jason the library video. She must have been the one recording us that day

I looked away fast, blinking hard against the burn behind my eyes.

Priya leaned in. “Hey… you okay?”

I forced a nod, throat tight. “Y-yeah.” My chair scraped loudly against the floor as I pushed back. “I just need the restroom. Be right back.”

“Astra..”

I didn’t wait. I wove through the crowded cafeteria, the buzz of voices and clatter of trays pressing in from all sides, and the second I cleared the doors I broke into a run.

By the time I shoved into the girls’ restroom, my chest was heaving. I stumbled to the row of sinks and cranked the faucet on full blast. Cold water slapped against my face, over and over, dripping down my neck and soaking the collar of my blouse. I gripped the porcelain edges until my knuckles ached and stared at my reflection in the streaked mirror.

*What is wrong with you? The whisper barely made it past my lips. *You knew better. You promised after Jason… after Mr. Ashton… and you still let it get this bad.*

A humorless laugh scraped out of me. “You’re so stupid Astra.”

Then suddenly the door swung open behind me with a burst of laughter and I stiffened.

I didn’t need to turn around. I knew that voice.

“Well…” Maya drawled, heels clicking across the tile. “If it isn’t the little piggy.”

I slowly lifted my gaze to the mirror. She stood there with her two clones flanking her, all three wearing matching smug expressions.

I shut the water off, fingers trembling. “What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much.” Maya shrugged, all fake innocence. “Just wanted to see how hard you cried after Jason dumped you.”

My jaw tightened. “You’ve seen enough.”

She laughed. “Oh, I don’t think I have.” She took another step closer, her reflection looming behind mine. “Did you enjoy the video?”

Everything inside me froze.

“What?”

“The library.” She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “Surely he showed it to you by now.”

12:13 Fri, Jul 3 1

Chapter 124

My voice came out hoarse. “It was you.”

Maya gave a mocking little clap. “There she is. Smart girl.”

“Why.”

She smiled wider, like we were sharing a fun secret. “Because I was bored. And because I wanted to see what would happen.” A pleased little sigh. “It worked beautifully, don’t you think?”

“You….” The word choked off.

“Relax.” She waved a hand. “Jason isn’t even my type. Too sweet and painfully ordinary.” One of her friends snickered. don’t want him. But if he helps break that fragile little heart of yours a bit more…” She shrugged. “I can live with it.”

My hands curled into fists at my sides. “You’re horrible.”

“I know.” She moved closer until I could smell the sweet chemical bite of her lip gloss. “You still don’t get it, do you? You think this is some silly high school love triangle.”

Her smile turned almost pitying.

“It isn’t. Zane and I were practically raised together. Our families have been planning our future for years. Our fathers have already smoothed everything over.”

She studied my face in the mirror, watching the color drain from it. “You didn’t know that? Cute.”

Something cold and heavy settled in my gut.

“So let me save you the embarrassment.” She leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me. “You’re entertainment, Astra for my Zane. Nothing more. You don’t belong in his world.”

She straightened, smoothing her hair. “And Zane doesn’t belong in yours.”

She turned to leave, then paused at the door.

“Oh… and if I were you?” She glanced back over her shoulder, eyes glittering. “I’d spend less time worrying about boys and more time worrying about your mother.”

My heart slammed to a stop. “What?”

Maya just smiled. “Guess you’ll find out.”

Their laughter echoed off the tiles as the door swung shut behind them, fading down the hallway.

I stood frozen in front of the sink, water still dripping from my chin, pulse thundering in my ears.

My mother?

What the hell did she mean?

12:1

Fri, Jul 3