The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Chapter 115

ASTRA

By the time my shift ended, my smile felt stitched onto my face.

I’d somehow made it through the rest of the evening, taking orders, refilling coffee, carrying plates, even laughing once or twice when customers joked.

But inside, I felt hollow.

The moment the last customer left, I disappeared into the staff room. I didn’t even make it to the chair before the tears

came.

Jade was beside me instantly. “Oh, honey…” She wrapped her arms around me before I could apologize. “It’s okay. Just letit out.”

That only made me cry harder.

A minute later, the door creaked open. Philemon stepped in carrying two bottled waters. He took one look at my face and sighed. “Well.”

He handed one bottle to Jade and offered the other to me. “I take it the boyfriend conversation didn’t go very well.”

I shook my head, unable to speak.

“They broke up,” Jade said for me.

Philemon winced. “Ouch.” He leaned against the lockers, arms folded. “First heartbreak?”

I nodded.

“Damn.” His expression softened. “This is gonna hurt for a while.”

Jade squeezed my shoulder. “You made a mistake, Astra. That doesn’t make you a monster.”

“I didn’t even deserve him,” I whispered, staring at the floor.

“Good people hurt people sometimes,” Philemon said calmly. “Doesn’t make them bad. Jason probably thinks you’re confused… and honestly, from what you’ve told us, you are.”

Neither of them sounded judgmental and somehow that made me cry again.

“I never wanted to hurt him.”

“I know,” Jade murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “But whether you meant to or not, you owe it to both of them and yourself to figure out what your heart actually wants.”

I closed my eyes. That was the problem. I wasn’t sure anymore.

Half an hour later, we locked up the diner. The cool night air hit my face as we stepped outside.

Jade pulled me into one last hug. “Go home. And don’t spend all night blaming yourself.”

“I’ll try.” I managed a weak smile.

Philemon pointed at me. “Text us when you get home. Promise.”

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Chapter 115

“I promise.”

They climbed into Jade’s little hatchback. “Night, sweetheart!” Jade called through the open window.

A moment later, they were gone.

55 way

The street fell quiet. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and started walking toward the bus stop. It was just after ten, and the sidewalks were mostly empty.

I had barely gone twenty feet when headlights swept across the pavement beside me and a sleek black car rolled slowly alongside.

I didn’t need to look. I already knew.

The passenger window slid down.

“Get in.”

Zane.

My grip tightened on my bag but kept walking.

“I said get in.”

“No.”

“Astra.”

The way he said my name, soft, without the usual nicknames twisted something in my chest.

“I said no.”

His engine hummed beside me as he matched my pace. “Were you waiting for me?”

Silence. That was answer enough.

I laughed once, the sound bitter and hollow even to my own ear. “You’ve been sitting out here for hours?”

“So?”

“That’s insane.”

“I’ve been called worse.” He didn’t sound sorry.

“Go away, Zane.”

“No.”

I stopped walking. “So you’re just going to follow me?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

Anger surged through me again. “You don’t get to do this! Leave me alone!”

“I can’t.”

His answer came so quickly it stole the breath from my lungs. For one brief second, his face wasn’t cocky or teasing. Just tired and painfully serious.

Chapter 115

“I told you to stay away from me.”

“I heard you.”

“And you’re ignoring me.”

“Yeah.” He didn’t even pretend otherwise. “I’m not leaving you to walk home like this.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You are unbelievable.”

“So I’ve been told.”

I turned sharply and started walking faster. He simply eased the SUV forward beside me.

“Trouble.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“No.”

“Zane!”

“Get in the car.”

“I’d rather walk.”

“It’s late and it’s a thirty-minute walk.”

“I know.”

He exhaled sharply. “Get in the damn car before I drag you in myself.”

I didn’t stop.

But I hated myself even more… because a part of me wanted to open that passenger door.

15 vouc

I kept walking, faster now, eyes fixed on the dimly lit sidewalk ahead. My legs ached from the long shift, but I didn’t care. Anything was better than getting into that car with him.

“Get in the car, Astra.”

His voice followed me like a shadow.

I didn’t answer. I just kept moving, arms wrapped tightly around myself, tears still burning tracks down my cheeks.

The SUV rolled slowly beside me for another few seconds. Then the engine cut off.

My heart jumped.

I heard the door open and then his footsteps.

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