The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

JASON

Friday, October 29

The cafeteria noise buzzed around me like static.

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Cardo was going on about some ridiculous group costume idea for tomorrow’s Halloween party, something involving zombies and football pads. The rest of the guys were laughing, throwing in suggestions, but I wasn’t listening. My eyes kept drifting across the room to the table near the windows.

Astra.

She sat with Priya and Chloe, her golden hair tied back in that familiar ponytail, the same soft curve of her shoulders under her uniform. She looked tired but beautiful and so far away it hurt.

A few weeks.

That’s how long it had been since we broke up.

I’d tried to give her space. Tried to convince myself that staying away would make the ache dull. It hadn’t. Every single day I watched her climb into Zane’s car after school. Every single day I saw the way he looked at her like she was some toy he now owned.

My jaw ached with how hard I was gritting my teeth.

Across the cafeteria, Zane sat with his usual crew, the loud, arrogant football pack that acted like they owned the school. They were laughing about something, probably some dumb joke. But Zane wasn’t really with them. His eyes were on Astra.

Hungry and so damn possessive it was repulsive to see.

That fucking triumphant little smirk he always wore when he caught me looking.

I wanted to walk over there and choke the life out of him.

“Yo, Jason.” Ryder nudged my arm. “You even listening, man? What are you dressing as tomorrow?”

I forced a shrug. “Haven’t thought about it.”

The Halloween party. The sport committee, Astra as president, and me as one of the main organizers had spent weeks planning it. Haunted house in the gym, themed food stalls, a costume contest with prizes. It was supposed to be fun.

But I didn’t feel any excitement for it.

I glanced back at Astra. She was smiling at something Priya said, and how I hungered for that smile to be directed at me.

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My chest ached.

I’d spent weeks convincing myself to let her go.

It wasn’t working.

I pushed my tray away and stood.

Ryder raised an eyebrow. “Where you going?”

I looked across the cafeteria, my gaze finding Astra.

“To stop making the biggest mistake of my life.”

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I didn’t wait for their reaction. I crossed the cafeteria, when I reached her table, Priya and Chloe went quiet.

“Astra.”

She looked up, surprise flickering across her face. “Jason…”

“Can we talk?” My voice was steady, but my heart was pounding so hard. “Outside. Just for a minute.”

She hesitated, then nodded.

We stepped out into the hallway. The noise of the cafeteria faded behind us. I stopped near the windows, turning to face her.

“I thought walking away would make this easier,” I said quietly. “I thought if I kept my distance, eventually I’d stop looking for you.”

Her eyes searched mine. “Jason…”

I gave a humorless laugh and shook my head.

“Turns out I was wrong.” My gaze dropped for a second before finding hers again. “Every afternoon I watch you leave with him. Every morning you arrive with him. And every day I tell myself it shouldn’t bother me anymore.”

I took a slow step closer.

“It still does.”

She swallowed hard but didn’t speak.

“I know I was the one who walked away,” I continued. “I know I don’t get to pretend I didn’t hurt you. But that doesn’t change the fact that I still love you.”

I searched her face, trying to read what she wasn’t saying.

“Tomorrow’s the Halloween party.”

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Chapter 140

She frowned slightly.

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“Come with me.” My voice softened. “Not because I’m asking you to forget everything that happened. Just… give me one evening. One chance to remind you that what we had was real.”

I lifted my hand, hesitating for the briefest moment before gently brushing my thumb across her cheek, where that faint bruise had finally disappeared.

“If you tell me no,” I said quietly, “I’ll respect it.”

“But I had to ask.”

She looked torn, lips parting as though she wanted to answer but couldn’t find the words.

Through the glass doors behind her, I caught sight of Ashton.

His expression had gone still, watching us like a predator.

Good.

He needed to know I wasn’t walking away this time.

Astra looked down at the floor.

Then back at me.

She looked torn, lips parting like she wanted to answer but couldn’t find the words right away.

“Jason…” she whispered finally, voice shaky.”One evening, Jason. That’s all I can promise.”

Relief flooded through me so fast my knees almost buckled.

I could work with that.

I smiled, the first real one in weeks and gently squeezed her hand.

“Thank you. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night.”

She gave me a small, uncertain smile in return.

I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before stepping back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, love.”

I walked away before she could change her mind, heart pounding with a mix of hope and nerves.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, adjusting the collar of the dark Victorian-style coat I’d rented for tomorrow’s Halloween party.

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The theme was “Gothic Masquerade” the committee had gone all out with fog machines, candlelit corridors, and a masked dance floor. It was going to be perfect.

I ran a hand through my hair, and grinned at my reflection.

She said yes.

The heavy weight in my chest felt lighter. I could still picture her face in the hallway, surprised, conflicted, but not completely closed off. That was enough.

I picked up my phone and opened our last chat, the one where she’d agreed.

Me: Can’t stop thinking about tomorrow. You’re going to look beautiful no matter what you wear.

No reply yet. That was fine. She was probably with the twins or checking on her mom.

I set the phone down and went back to adjusting my costume. The coat was deep charcoal with subtle silver embroidery, elegant but a little dangerous. I wanted her to see me tonight not as the safe, nice guy she’d friend-zoned… but as someone worth fighting for.

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