The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 133

Chapter 133

ASTRA

Tuesday.

My alarm went off at six. I let it chime for a few seconds, eyes fixed on the ceiling, before I finally killed it.

Yesterday kept trying to push its way in, Mom, the Whitmores, Zane’s kiss but I squeezed my eyes shut.

*Not today.

I dragged myself up, made the bed with sharp corners the way I always did, and headed for the bathroom.

The shower ran hot enough to sting. I stood under it longer than I needed to, letting the steam blur everything.

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By the time I’d dried my hair, ironed my uniform, and pulled it on, the worst of the heaviness had settled somewhere behind my ribs instead of sitting right on my shoulders.

One last look in the mirror. The swelling around my eyes had mostly gone down.

Good enough.

I slipped out of my room and padded down the hallway. The twins’ door was already cracked open.

I pushed it wider. “Good mor..”

Both boys were awake.

Mason sat on the edge of his bed, fully dressed and calmly tying his shoelaces…..normal.

But Lucas… Lucas was sitting bolt upright on top of his blankets, hair a wild blond disaster, eyes wide like he’d been waiting

for me.

That was new.

I narrowed my eyes playfully. “Who are you and what have you done with Lucas?”

Mason snorted softly.

Lucas didn’t smile. He launched off the bed and barreled straight into me, arms locking around my waist like a vice.

I laughed, hugging him back. “Morning to you too, buddy.”

He didn’t let go. If anything, he held on tighter.

“Astra…” His voice was muffled against my shirt.

The laugh died in my throat.

I crouched so we were eye-level. His face was scrunched up, the way it got right before he tried not to cry.

“I’ll wake up early from now on,” he blurted. “I promise. I’ll get dressed by myself and eat breakfast and brush my teeth without you telling me. I’ll be… I’ll be good.”

My stomach twisted.

“Lucas

15:47 Tue, Jul 14

Chapter 133

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“I won’t make you come wake me anymore,” he rushed on, words tumbling over each other. “I’ll be quiet like Mason. I won’t be loud or messy or forget stuff. Just… please don’t leave.”

The words landed hard.

I pulled him closer. “Hey. Hey, look at me.”

He leaned back just enough for me to see the shine in his eyes.

“I heard you talking yesterday,” he whispered. “I thought… maybe it was because of me.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” I brushed his hair back with my fingers. “No. That’s not it at all.”

“Really?”

“Really.” I kept my voice steady even though something in my chest ached. “You could never be the reason I’d leave.”

He searched my face like he was trying to decide if I meant it. Then, quieter: “I don’t have to be like Mason?”

Mason looked up from his shoe, horrified. “Excuse me?”

I bit back a smile. “No, Lucas. I don’t want another Mason. One of him is plenty.”

Mason muttered, “I’m not that bad,” but there was a reluctant twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Lucas sniffled, still clinging to my hand. “Even when I wear my shirt backwards?”

“Even then.”

“Even when I forget my homework?”

“Even then.”

He hesitated, glancing sideways. “Even when I… hide broccoli in my pockets?”

I stared at him. “You what?”

Lucas suddenly found the floor very interesting. “It seemed like a good idea at the time…”

Mason let out a long-suffering sigh. “Told you she’d find out.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. The knot in my chest loosened, just a little.

Lucas peeked up at me, hopeful. “So… we’re still best friends?”

I squeezed his small hand. “Always.”

His whole face lit up, bright enough to power the entire house.

He pumped both fists in the air with a triumphant “Yes!” then immediately tried to play it cool and failed spectacularly.

“That means I don’t have to eat broccoli to keep you!”

Mason groaned. “You learned the wrong lesson.”

“I learned the important one.” Lucas declared, grinning shamelessly.

1 helped them finish getting ready, then sent them downstairs while I quickly checked on Mom. She was still sleeping peacefully, breathing steady. I brushed a strand of hair from her.

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