The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Chapter 100

ZANE

For the first time today, I saw a side of my Trouble I’d never witnessed before.

68 voutney’s

It was past 2 AM when I quietly pushed open the door to her room. The house was silent, everyone else asleep. But sleep had been impossible for me after watching her face when she looked at her mom. After seeing her fight so hard to stay strong while the weight of the world crushed her shoulders.

I stepped inside and closed the door softly behind me.

Astra lay curled on her side under a thin blanket, clutching her worn teddy bear like a lifeline. Golden hair spilled messily across the pillow, her brows furrowed even in sleep. She looked so small. So exhausted.

I stood in the dark for a long time, just watching her. This was the real Astra-not the girl who argued with me in the library or blushed at my teasing. This was the girl who worked two jobs, cared for my brothers, visited her sick mom, dodged loan sharks, and still came home every day trying to hold everything together alone.

I moved closer and sat on the edge of her bed. The mattress dipped under my weight, but she didn’t stir. Her breathing stayed soft and even, fingers twitching occasionally around the bear as if afraid it might vanish.

My chest tightened.

“How long have you been carrying this by yourself, Trouble?*

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my thumb lingering on the faint shadow of Catherine’s slap on her cheek. She shifted slightly but didn’t wake. I stayed there, memorizing every detail-the sweep of her lashes, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the quiet vulnerability she’d never show me awake.

This was the girl I’d spent years tormenting.

And now I couldn’t imagine hurting her again.

The thought of her crying-really crying-because of me twisted something ugly in my chest.

I didn’t even realise when I didn’t want that anymore.

I stroked her cheek with the back of my fingers. Everything about her was soft, her skin, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the way her body seemed made to melt against mine even when she fought it.

I leaned down, resting my head on the pillow beside hers, close enough to feel her warm breath and catch that sweet strawberry scent mixed with lingering hospital smells.

Do I like Astra?

No.

This ran much deeper than mere likeness.

I wanted to strip away every support she had-Jason, her pride, even the illusion that she could handle it all alone. I wanted her to have no one else to lean on.

Only me.

So she’d have no choice but to come to me. To need me. To belong to me completely.

I brushed my fingers across her soft lips.

Chapter 100

56 vouchers

“I’m going to make you all mine, Star,” I whispered against her skin. “Every piece of you. Until nothing is left that isn’t mine.”

She sighed softly in her sleep. I smiled against her hair, breathing her in as the obsession sank deeper into my bones.

The decision was final.

Astra Hawthorne would never be free of me again.

Thursday Afternoon

“Hey, shut up and listen!”

My voice cracked across the practice field like a whip. The JV and freshman players froze, helmets snapping toward me.

I stood in the middle in full practice gear, arms crossed, sweat dripping under the afternoon sun. This community service bullshit-equipment setup, drills, “mentoring” the younger guys on discipline-annoyed me. But I was damn good at it.

“Line up properly,” I barked, stalking down the row. “You ran that route like a drunk toddler. Fix your stance. Shoulders square. Eyes up. If you can’t handle a simple slant without tripping, you don’t deserve the jersey.”

AJV player muttered under his breath. I stopped in front of him, towering.

“Got something to say?”

He swallowed. “No, Captain.”

“Good. Run it again. Fuck up and you’re doing suicides till you puke.”

They scattered. I adjusted stances, demonstrated releases, and barked corrections the whole time. The kids listened-some scared, some respectful. I didn’t care which, as long as they improved.

Movement on the sidelines caught my eye.

Astra stood near the bleachers with Elizabeth, clipboard in hand, ponytail swaying. Even from across the field, I saw the exhaustion in her posture-the slumped shoulders, the way she tugged at her uniform skirt.

She looked beautiful.

And there was this strong almost primal urge to drag her somewhere private and make her forget everything but my hands

hit hard.

AJV player jogged up, panting. “Captain, how’s my release?”

I gave a quick correction, eyes still locked on Astra. “Better. But you’re telegraphing. Watch the ball, not the defender.”

He nodded and ran off.

I wiped sweat from my brow and headed toward the sidelines, pretending to check equipment.

Astra didn’t notice me until I was right in front of her. Her blue eyes widened, cheeks flushing that pretty pink I loved.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify