The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Chapter 104

ASTRA

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“This passage from Pride and Prejudice,” I said, pointing at the open book between us on the large oak table in the Ashton library, “shows Elizabeth’s internal conflict. She’s rejecting Mr. Darcy not just because of his pride, but because she believes he’s ruined her sister’s happiness. It’s about judgment, class, and how first impressions can be completely wrong.”

Zane sat across from me, leaning forward with focus. His green eyes were fixed on the page, one elbow resting on the table, fingers tapping lightly against the wood as he thought.

“So she’s punishing him for something he did to her sister,” he said thoughtfully. “But she doesn’t know the full story yet. That’s why she turns him down so harshly in the proposal scene?”

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself.

“Exactly. Elizabeth is fiercely loyal to her family. She sees Darcy as arrogant and harmful. But later, when she reads his letter and visits Pemberley, her perception starts to shift. Austen uses that to explore how prejudice blinds us.”

Zane leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. The movement made his shirt pull across his broad shoulders and I quickly forced my eyes back to the book.

“So it’s not just a romance,” he continued. “It’s about class and how money and status affect how people see each other. Darcy thinks he’s doing her a favor by proposing despite her lower status, and she’s insulted because he acts like he’s above

her.”

I blinked, genuinely impressed.

“Yes,” I said, nodding. “That’s a really good point. Most people focus only on the romance, but the social commentary is central. Darcy has to learn humility, and Elizabeth has to overcome her own prejudices.”

Zane’s lips curved into a small, almost teasing smirk.

“Sounds familiar.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Don’t.”

He chuckled softly, but his expression stayed engaged as he asked another question.

“So when she finally accepts him at the end… it’s because he changed, right? Not because of his money?”

“Partly,” I explained. “But mostly because he proved he respected her as an equal. He helped her family without expecting anything in return. That’s what makes the ending satisfying.”

Zane watched me for a long moment, green eyes intense.

“And what if someone doesn’t know how to prove that?” he asked quietly. “What if they’ve spent years being an asshole and don’t know how to fix it?”

The air between us thickened.

I looked down at the book, heart beating faster.

“Then… they have to start by listening,” I said softly. “And actually trying to understand the other person instead of assuming they know better.”

Chapter 104

Zane was quiet for a few seconds.

Then he nodded once.

“Alright. Keep going.”

I swallowed hard and turned the page, trying to ignore the way my pulse wouldn’t settle.

59 vas

We moved on to cue cards. I held them up one by one, testing him on key quotes, character motivations, and social themes.

Zane stayed focused the entire time. He answered each question carefully, sometimes pausing to think before giving insightful answers that made a small spark of satisfaction bloom in my chest.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged…” I read from the next card.

Zane was quiet for a second before answering.

“It’s Austen mocking how marriage is treated like a business transaction in their society. The mothers are desperate to marry off their daughters to secure their futures, not for love.”

I nodded, a small, genuine smile tugging at my lips.

“Exactly. And Elizabeth rejects that idea completely. She wants respect and equality, not just financial security.”

He asked a few good follow-up questions, and I explained, correcting him gently when needed.

Then the library door opened.

Landon Ashton stepped inside.

The temperature in the room seemed to dropped instantly.

Zane went rigid beside me, shoulders tightening, jaw clenching. The easy focus he’d had vanished in a second, replaced by

cold tension.

I stood up quickly, polite as always.

“Good evening, Mr. Ashton,”

Landon stopped near the table, eyes flicking over the books and cue cards before settling on me. He barely acknowledged his son.

“I hope my son isn’t giving you too much trouble this evening.”

The way he said it like Zane was an inconvenience I had to endure made irritation flare in my chest.

I kept my tone polite but firm.

“Zane is doing very well sir,” I said, surprising even myself. “He’s been engaged and asking excellent questions. We’re making solid progress and I believe he’ll do fine on the upcoming assessments.”

Landon raised an eyebrow, glancing briefly at Zane before looking back at me.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, sir,” I continued, keeping my voice respectful but clear. “He has strong analytical skills when he applies himself. I’m confident in him.”

Zane stared at me, genuine surprise flickering in his green eyes.

12:08 Fri, Jul 31

Chapter 104

Landon studied me for a long moment, then gave a small, almost approving nod.

“Very well. Carry on.”

He turned and walked out without another word to his son.

The door closed behind him with a soft click.

Silence settled over the table.

Zane was still looking at me, something unreadable but intense in his expression.

“You defended me,” he said quietly, almost like he couldn’t believe it.

I sat back down, cheeks warm.

“I wasn’t defending *you*,” I said, avoiding his gaze as I shuffled the cue cards. “I was defending the truth. You’ve been working hard today, and he should know that.”

Zane leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, green eyes never leaving mine. The intensity in them made my stomach flutter.

“Still,” he murmured, voice low and rough. “You didn’t have to.”

I looked down at the cue card in my hands, heart beating too fast.

“Let’s just keep going,” I whispered.

But the air between us felt different now.

Warmer and Charged.

We tried to continue. I held up the next card, reading the question about Elizabeth Bennet’s character development. Zane answered, but his voice was lower than before, his gaze heavier. Every time I corrected him gently, his eyes would drop to my lips for a split second.

The tension kept building.

After a few more questions, Zane suddenly reached across the table and caught my wrist, stopping me from flipping the next card.

“Stop,” he said.

I looked up, startled.

“What?”

He stood up slowly, towering over the table, and rounded it until he was standing right in front of me. His hand slid from my wrist to my chin, tilting my face up.

His gaze searched mine, as if he was looking for something he couldn’t quite find.

“What have you done to me, Hawthorne?” he whispered, sounding dangerously close to vulnerable.

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