The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Chapter 110

ASTRA

I stared down at Zane. His head rested beneath my chin, one heavy arm locked around my waist like he’d anchored himself there on purpose. His breathing was slow and even against my chest.

My heart refused to settle.

Months ago, the idea of being in Zane Ashton’s bed-let alone letting him use me as a human pillow-would’ve been laughable. Now I couldn’t make myself move.

The bedside lamp cast a soft gold across his face. Without the smirk or the cocky tilt to his jaw, he looked younger. Almost fragile. Just a tired eighteen-year-old who’d spent the whole day pretending he wasn’t burning up.

My fingers brushed a damp strand of hair off his forehead. Still warm, but better. I should have slipped away. Gone / downstairs to check on the twins. Done anything except stay here, counting his breaths.

Instead, I stayed. My hand drifted through his hair before I could stop it.

“You’re going to be okay,” I whispered. “Even if you make everything ten times harder than it has to be.”

Then exhaustion pulled at me, forcing my eyes to drift shut, and at some point, sleep won.

“Astra… Astra, darling.”

A gentle voice tugged me awake. I blinked, disoriented, until reality crashed back in.

Zane was still curled into me, arm snug around my waist, face tucked against my chest like he belonged there.

“Oh God.”

“Mrs. Ashton…” I whispered, heat flooding my face. “This isn’t, his fever spiked and I was just helping and then 1..”

Elira raised a hand, her smile soft and knowing. “It’s alright, sweetheart.”

She glanced at her son, still dead to the world against me, and her expression warmed. “He’s never been good at being sick. When he was seven he tried sneaking out to play football with the flu.” A quiet laugh slipped out of her. “Stubborn as they

come.”

That sounded exactly like him.

She brushed a hand through his messy hair, then straightened. “I’ll handle the twins tonight. You’ve done enough.”

“Mrs. Ashton, I can..”

“Astra.” Her voice was even softer “Get some rest.”

She squeezed my shoulder and slipped out, the door clicking shut behind her.

Silence settled again. Zane hadn’t moved. I looked down at the way he clung to me, and a reluctant smile tugged at my lips despite myself. Even unconscious, the boy refused to give me an inch of space.

About half an hour later, I felt him stir against my shoulder.

His eyes opened, sleepy, heavy-lidded, and unfairly beautiful in the low light.

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Chapter 110

“You’re awake,” I said softly.

“Mhm.” His voice was rough, and gravelly.

I pressed the back of my hand to his forehead and the knot in my chest eased a fraction. “Fever’s breaking.”

He didn’t answer. Just looked at me, and kept looking.

My stomach flipped.

“What?” I asked.

Nothing. That lazy half-smile slowly curved his mouth.

“I like this view,” he murmured.

Heat rushed up my neck. “Y..your ridiculous.”

The smile deepened, slow and smug even through his sickness.

I cleared my throat. “You should eat something.”

“No.”

“You need to.”

“No.”

“Zane.”

He closed his eyes again, the picture of stubborn contentment. I wanted to smother him with a pillow.

The door creaked open a few minutes later. Lucas shuffled in, clutching his green dinosaur plushie to his chest. His blond hair stuck up in wild tufts.

My heart melted on sight. “Hey, honey.”

He looked at me, then at Zane, then back to me. “I don’t wanna sleep alone.”

I patted the edge of the mattress. “Bad dreams again?”

He nodded, eyes big.

Normally I’d pull him in and stay until he drifted off. But Zane was still wrapped around me like a fever-warm koala, and moving felt… impossible.

“It’s okay,” I said gently. “Nightmares can’t hurt you. You’re so brave, and you’re getting bigger every day.”

Lucas stared, then his gaze slid to Zane’s arm around my waist and his little brow furrowed.

“But Zane’s bigger than me,” he said solemnly. “And he gets to cuddle you.”

I froze.

“Oh no.*

Beside me, one green eye cracked open to look at his brother.

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