The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Chapter 141

ASTRA

Zane was definitely planning something.

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The entire drive home from school, he’d been… normal. No usual Zane ashton antics, teasing, no ridiculous flirting, or deliberate brushes of his fingers against mine just to watch me blush.

Not even a single sarcastic comment.

He hadn’t mentioned anything about Jason

Nothing.

And that silence was far more dangerous than any of his usual behaviour.

Because Zane Ashton didn’t let things go especially not something like that.

He’d watched Jason tug me out of the cafeteria. He’d stared through the glass while we talked. And then… he’d simply let it drop.

*What is going on inside that psychotic head of yours?*

“Astra!”

Lucas’s voice snapped me back to the present.

I blinked. “Huh?”

“You weren’t listening,” he accused.

“I was.”

“You weren’t.”

“I absolutely was.”

Lucas folded his tiny arms, looking every bit like a disappointed old man. “What did I just say?”

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“Exactly.”

A soft laugh came from Elira, who sat at the foot of his bed. The twins’ room had officially become Halloween central, orange paper bats dangled from the curtain rod, plastic pumpkins crowded the dresser, and fake spider webs draped across every surface despite multiple warnings.

Lucas stood in the middle of the chaos wearing his superhero costume, cape and all. “I am *not* taking it off.”

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“You’ve had it on for almost an hour,” Elira reminded him gently.

“So?”

“So you’ll wrinkle it before tomorrow.”

“I’ll unwrinkle it.”

Elira raised an eyebrow. “You can’t.”

Lucas turned to me with hopeful eyes. “Astra will fix it.”

I smiled apologetically. “Sorry, buddy.”

“Traitor,” he muttered.

“I learned from Mason.”

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Mason, dressed as a tiny wizard complete with round glasses and a wand he refused to put down, glanced up from the floor. “I said nothing.”

“You didn’t have to,” Lucas shot back.

He groaned, loud enough for the whole house to hear. “This is not cool.”

“It’s called parenting,” Elira said, smiling.

I crossed the room and straightened his cape. “You can wear it again tomorrow. Promise.”

“But I want to wear it now.” His voice turned hopeful. “Even when I sleep?”

“No.”

Another theatrical sigh. “My life is so hard.”

“You had pizza twice this week,” Mason pointed out.

“Exactly.”

None of us could follow that logic. Elira just shook her head, amused.

He pouted for all of three seconds before lighting up again. “Astra?”

“Hmm?”

“Tomorrow…” His eyes sparkled with pure excitement. “Are we really going trick-or-treating?”

My smile softened. “Yes.”

His mouth fell open. “For real?”

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“For real.”

He spun toward Mason. “We’re getting candy!”

Mason adjusted his glasses. “I was already aware.”

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Lucas ignored him, bouncing so hard the mattress squeaked. “We’ve never been trick-or-treating before!”

“I know, buddy.”

“What if someone gives us giant chocolate bars?”

“I hope they do.”

“What if they give us *two*?”

I laughed. “Then you’ll have two.”

My smile softened.

Tomorrow would be the twins’ first real trick-or-treating experience.

Elira had already told me Landon arranged it every year for the children in the estate. The neighborhood was closed off, security patrolled every street, and families decorated their homes like something out of a movie. It was safe enough that even the youngest kids could wander from house to house with their parents collecting candy.

And somehow, I’d been put in charge of two very excited eight-year-olds.

Lucas thrust both fists into the air. “Best Halloween ever!”

We’d spend the afternoon trick-or-treating before heading to the school Halloween party that evening.

My smile faltered just a little as Jason’s words drifted back into my mind.

My stomach twisted with unease. And somewhere in the back of my thoughts, I couldn’t shake the feeling the Zane already knew.

Elira snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Astra.”

I blinked. “Y-yes, ma’am?”

She smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Come with me. There’s something I want to show you.”

I frowned. “What is it?”

“You’ll see.”

She glanced back at the twins. “You two stay here. We’ll be right back.”

I expected her to head downstairs toward the living area or the kitchen. Instead, she turned toward my room.

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My brows knitted together in confusion.

“Um… Ma’am?”

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She didn’t answer, just kept that mysterious little smile as she reached for the doorknob and pushed the door

open.

I stopped dead in the doorway, the words dying on my tongue.

“Oh…”

Spread across my bed was the most breathtaking dress I had ever seen. It wasn’t a childish costume-it looked like something pulled straight from a fantasy story.

Layers of shimmering midnight-blue tulle flowed from a fitted bodice embroidered with delicate silver vines and tiny crystal stars that sparkled whenever they caught the light.

The sweetheart neckline was elegantly modest, while the sheer illusion sleeves glittered with scattered beadwork like stardust across the night sky. A silver corset belt cinched the waist, letting the skirt fall in soft, graceful waves.

Beside it rested a pair of sparkling silver heels, a delicate masquerade mask covered in crystals with feathered silver detailing, and a small jewelry box. Inside were moonstone earrings, a matching bracelet, and a tiny star- shaped pendant.

My breath caught in my throat. For a long moment, I could only stare.

Elira folded her arms, satisfaction written all over her face. “You like it.”

Tears blurred my vision. “It’s beautiful.”

She stepped closer and brushed her fingers over the fabric. “A few days ago I asked what you planned to wear to the Halloween party. You said you’d ‘figure something out.””

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