The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

ŻANE

“Take a seat, Zane.”

Landon gestured toward the leather chair opposite his desk.

I didn’t move. “I’d rather stand.”

His gaze lingered on me another second before he sat down himself. “As you wish.”

The silence stretched between us like a wire pulled tight. I crossed my arms.

“Well? You dragged me in here. Go ahead. Say whatever you’ve been rehearsing.”

He folded his hands neatly on the desk. “I’ll keep this brief.”

“That’d be a first.”

He ignored the jab. “I spoke with Keegan Whitmore today.”

My jaw tightened. “I don’t care.”

“You should.”

“I don’t.”

Landon regarded me with that infuriating calm. “Our families have maintained a relationship for generations.”

“I know the speech. Legacy. Reputation. All that. I’ve heard it since I could walk.”

“Then you’ll understand what I’m about to tell you.”

I gave a mocking salute. “Enlighten me.”

“Your marriage to Maya Whitmore has been discussed between our families for years.”

I blinked.

Then I huffed out a disbelieving laugh.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I am not.”

I shook my head, still grinning. “That’s funny. I’ll give you that.”

His voice stayed perfectly level. “It isn’t a joke.”

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“So let me get this straight.” I pointed between us. “You and Keegan decided who I’d marry without ever asking me?”

“It wasn’t a decision made lightly.”

“It wasn’t your decision to make.”

“It was.”

15:46 ue,

KA

Chapter 130

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The certainty in his voice killed the last of my smile. Landon leaned back slightly. “The understanding has existed for years. I intended to discuss it with you after graduation.”

“I don’t give a damn what you intended.” My voice hardened. “I am not marrying Maya.”

“That isn’t your decision alone.”

I barked out another laugh. “Watch me.”

Silence.

Then he spoke again, quieter. “This is no longer just about Maya. It’s about Astra.”

My shoulders stiffened. “What about her?”

“You need to leave her alone.”

Every muscle in my body locked up. “No.”

Landon’s voice remained calm, but his words cut deep. “The Whitmores already believe she’s responsible for your relationship ending. If you continue pursuing her… they will continue viewing her as an obstacle.” He paused. “And obstacles are removed.”

The room went dead quiet.

I stared at him. “You think I don’t know that?”

“I think your presence is putting her directly in their path.” His gaze never wavered. “You care about her.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I do.” The admission slipped out faster than I expected.

Dad nodded once. “Then prove it. Walk away.”

“No.”

“If you continue this… she will keep paying the price.”

I took a step toward his desk. “I’m not abandoning her.”

“I’m asking you to consider what your attention is costing her.” His tone stayed even, relentless. “She was humiliated. Her mother lost her health care. And the Whitmores aren’t finished.”

My chest rose and fell faster. “They don’t scare me.”

“They don’t have to. They only have to keep hurting her.”

Something cold settled in my gut.

“You cannot protect her every hour of every day,” he continued. “You’ll graduate. You’ll leave. You’ll have obligations. And she’ll be the one left dealing with the consequences.”

I looked away. For the first time since walking into this study. I had no comeback.

Then another thought hit me like a punch. My head snapped back toward him.

“You’ve got a lot to say about who I should be with.” A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me. “That’s rich. Considering you’re screwing half the staff

15:4 ue,

KIRA

Chapter 130

The room fell silent.

I watched him carefully, waiting for the flinch. The guilt. Anything.

Nothing. Not even a flicker.

He simply looked at me. “I wondered when you’d bring that up.”

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“You think you get to lecture me?” I scoffed. “You sleep around in your own house. You cheat on Mom. And somehow Im the one embarrassing the Ashton name?”

“My marriage is between your mother and me.”

“Bullshit.”

“It is.” His expression remained unreadable. “You don’t get to use my mistakes to justify your own.”

I took another step forward. “I’m telling you I like Astra. I like her. I’m not pretending I don’t. I don’t care what deal you made with Keegan. I’m not choosing Maya.”

For the first time that evening. Dad sighed. “When I was your age,” he said quietly, “I believed feelings were enough. They aren’t.”

I clenched my jaw. “They should be.”

“They never have been.” His gaze hardened. “You may love Astra. But love will not change the world she lives in. If you continue down this path… the person who suffers most won’t be you.” His eyes held mine. “It will be her.”

And for the first time since I’d walked into that study…

….I hated the possibility that he might be right.

I couldn’t breathe in that room anymore.

I turned on my heel and yanked the study door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

Behind me, Dad didn’t call out. He never did. He just let me go, like he always did when he knew he’d already won the round.

My blood was on fire.

I stormed down the hallway, shoulders tight, fists clenched so hard my nails cut into my palms. The house felt too small, too quiet, like it was closing in on me. Every word my father had said replayed on a loop.

I stopped at the end of the corridor, chest heaving. The wall stared back at me, pristine and mocking.

{“Fuck this.”

My fist flew before I could think. The impact cracked through the silence, bone against plaster.

Pain flared through my wrist but I welcomed it.

I hit it again, and again. Over and over. Each punch landed harder, splitting my knuckles, smearing blood across the white wall. A guttural shout tore out of me, echoing down the empty hall..

“Is this what you wanted?” I roared at nothing, at everything. “You think I’ll just walk away from her?!”

My knuckles split wider. Blood dripped down my wrist, warm and sticky, but I didn’t stop.

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15:46 Tue, Jul

Chapter 130

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The pain was the only thing keeping me from going into that study and pummeling my Landon to a pulp or better still the

Whitmores.

A small, shaky voice cut through the haze.

“…Zane?”

I froze mid-swing, chest burning, breath ragged. Slowly, I turned.

Lucas and Mason stood at the end of the hallway in their pajamas, eyes wide. Lucas clutched the edge of Mason’s sleeve. both of them looking smaller than usual. Mason’s voice trembled as he asked again, “Is Astra really leaving us?”

The sight of them hit me like another punch-this one straight to the gut. I lowered my bleeding fist, trying to steady my breathing. Blood kept dripping onto the floor, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

I wiped my face with my forearm, and forced my voice steady.

“Come here,” I said, crouching down so I wasn’t towering over them.

They hesitated for half a second before rushing forward. Lucas crashed into my chest first, small arms wrapping tight around my neck. Mason followed, burying his face against my shoulder.

I held them both, bloodied knuckles and all, careful not to get any on their pajamas.

“Astra isn’t leaving,” I told them “Not if I can help it. She’s she’s going through some really hard shit right now. Bad people hurt her mom, and they’re trying to hurt her too. But I’m not letting that happen.”

Lucas pulled back just enough to look at me, eyes glassy. “But Astra said… and you were yelling…”

“I know. I’m pissed. Really pissed.” I swallowed. “But that’s not on her. None of this is on her. She’s the best thing that’s happened to this house in a long time. To all of us

Mason sniffled. “She reads us stories. And she doesn’t get mad when I can’t sleep.”

“Yeah,” I said, throat burning. “She does. And she’s not leaving. I’m gonna make sure of it. You two just… keep being good for her, okay? Make her smile like you always do. That’s your job. Mine is keeping the monsters away.”

I pressed a kiss to the top of Lucas’s head, then Mason’s, ignoring the sting in my knuckles. “Go back to bed. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”

They didn’t want to let go, but eventually they shuffled off, glancing back at me with worried little faces. The second they disappeared around the corner, the rage flooded back in, hotter than before.

I stared at the blood-smeared wall, chest still heaving.

I wasn’t walking away from her.

Not ever.

15:47 Tue, Jul 14