The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

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I tried to focus on the open textbook in front of me, but it was impossible with Zane sitting across the table, green eyes locked on me like I was more interesting than anything Fitzgerald had ever written.

“The green light,” I said, clearing my throat and trying to sound normal. “It represents Gatsby’s dream of Daisy, but also the broader idea of the American Dream. It’s always just out of reach, across the bay. No matter how hard he tries, he can never quite get to it.”

Zane leaned forward, elbows on the table, chin resting on his hand. “Like chasing something you know you’ll never really have.”

His voice was low, almost thoughtful.

I nodded, ignoring the way his gaze made my skin feel too warm. “Exactly. And the valley of ashes, that’s where the poor people live, right between West Egg and East Egg. It shows the class divide. How the rich destroy everything and don’t even care.”

Zane’s fingers brushed mine on the table. I pulled my hand back quickly, cheeks burning.

“You’re good at this,” he said, voice softer. “Explaining things. Making them make sense.”

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “It’s just a book.”

“Not to you.” He tilted his head. “You get it. The wanting something so badly it ruins you.”

His eyes held mine for a long second.

I looked down at the book again, heart racing.

“And the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg,” I continued, voice a little unsteady. “They watch everything. Like judgment. Like someone’s always seeing the truth even when people pretend they don’t.”

Zane was quiet for a moment.

Then he reached across the table and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“Like me watching you,” he murmured.

I swatted his hand away again. “Zane, seriously. We have to finish this.”

He leaned back in his chair with that lazy, satisfied smirk, but thankfully he let me focus.

For the next thirty minutes, I helped him with the rest of his assignment, explaining the symbolism of the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, the corruption of the American Dream, and how Gatsby’s obsession with the past destroys him.

He listened, asked good questions and jotted down notes. I worked on my own essay at the same time, the two

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Chapter 138

of us sitting in surprisingly comfortable silence broken only by the occasional rustle of paper.

Finally, I closed my notebook with a relieved sigh.

“Done.”

Zane glanced at the clock. “Good timing. Mrs. Patel said the library closes in forty-five minutes.”

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I packed my bag quickly, eager to get out of here. My mind was already racing ahead, I needed to check on Mom, make sure the twins had eaten, and just… breathe.

To my surprise, Zane didn’t say anything teasing. He didn’t try to stop me or demand a kiss. He just stood up, slung his bag over his shoulder, and followed me toward the exit.

We stepped out of the library into the quiet hallway. The school felt almost empty now, the late afternoon light casting long shadows across the floor.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Finally.

We walked side by side toward the parking lot. Zane was unusually quiet, but I could feel his presence like a shadow at my side, warm, heavy, impossible to ignore.

Then I froze.

Jason was leaning against his car in the nearly empty lot, phone in hand. He looked up the moment he saw us, his expression tightening when his eyes landed on Zane beside me.

My stomach dropped.

Zane’s hand shot out instantly, fingers wrapping around my wrist before I could take another step.

“Tell me you’re not about to walk over to him,” he said, his eyes fixed on mine.

I blinked at him. “What?”

His grip eased slightly, though he didn’t let go.

“You stopped.”

“I wasn’t going over there.”

I looked past him toward Jason.

“I just… wasn’t expecting to see him.”

Jason glanced up once.

For a brief second, our eyes met.

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Chapter 138

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Then he looked back down at his phone, unlocked it, and climbed into his car without another glance in our direction.

The engine started.

A few seconds later, he pulled out of the parking lot.

I watched the taillights disappear through the school gates.

Something heavy settled in my chest.

Zane followed my gaze, then quietly released my wrist.

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