The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 148

11:05 Sat, Jul 18

Chapter 148

Chapter 148

ASTRA

The car ride felt endless.

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Zane drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the gear shift like he had all the time in the world. Every few seconds, I could feel his eyes flicking toward me, that heavy, knowing stare that made my skin prickle.

I kept my arms crossed tight over my chest, staring out the passenger window like the passing trees were the most fascinating thing I’d ever seen.

Silence stretched between us.

Then he broke it.

“So…” His voice was low, like he was enjoying every second of my discomfort. “How was your night?”

My face heated instantly and I refused to look at him.

“I slept fine.”

“Liar.”

I shot him a glare. “I’m not lying.”

“You’re blushing.”

“I’m not!”

“You are.” He grinned, eyes flicking to my cheeks. “And you’re gripping that seatbelt like it personally offended you.”

I loosened my fingers immediately. “You’re annoying.”

“And you’re cute when you’re pretending you’re not thinking about me.”

My mouth fell open. “I am “not thinking about you.”

“Really?” He leaned slightly toward me, voice dropping into that smooth sexy purr. “Because I’ve been thinking about you all morning. About how you tasted. How you sounded when you came on my tongue. How pretty you looked shaking for me.”

“Zane!” I hissed, face burning so hot I thought I might combust. “You can’t just say things like that while you’re driving!”

“Why not?” He shrugged, completely unbothered. “I’m a multitasker.”

I groaned and covered my face with both hands. “I hate you.”

1/6

11:05 Sat, Jul 18

Chapter 148

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“Mmm.” He nodded, thoughtful, like he was considering a particularly interesting problem. “But not enough to stop letting me touch you.”

I opened my mouth then closed it again, heat crawling up my neck.

Damn him.

He was smirking, green eyes sparkling with pure, unfiltered chaos.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I muttered.

“Like what?”

“Like you want to pull over and do something stupid.”

He laughed. “I do want to pull over and do something stupid. Very stupid. Extremely stupid.”

“Zane!”

“But I won’t.” He reached over and gently tugged my ponytail, letting the strands slip through his fingers. “Not when you’re already late for work. I’m trying to be good.”

“You’re failing.”

The car slowed as we approached the diner. He pulled into the parking lot and stopped right in front of the entrance, turning to face me fully.

For a moment, the teasing faded. His expression softened just a fraction.

He reached over and brushed his thumb across my cheek, the touch surprisingly gentle.

“If anyone gives you trouble…” His eyes darkened. “You call me. Immediately.”

I swallowed. “I can handle myself.”

“I know you can.” He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “But I want to handle them for you.”

My heart did a stupid little flip.

I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door before I could do something even stupider.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime, Star.”

I stepped out, legs still a little shaky, and closed the door behind me.

As I walked toward the diner entrance, I could feel his eyes on me the entire way.

When I finally glanced back, he was still parked there, watching me with that same intense look.

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11:05 Sat, Jul 18

Chapter 148

He didn’t drive off until I was safely inside.

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The little bell above the diner door chimed as I stepped inside. Warm air rushed to greet me, thick with the comforting scents of fresh coffee, cinnamon rolls, sizzling burgers, and buttery pastries. But today the familiar space had transformed.

Orange and black streamers crisscrossed the ceiling like playful lightning. Paper bats dangled from invisible strings, swooping gently in the draft from the door. Tiny plastic pumpkins marched along the counter beside overflowing candy bowls, while smiling jack-o’-lantern decals grinned from the front windows. Fake spiderwebs even draped lazily over the menu board.

A cardboard skeleton stood guard by the entrance, proudly wearing one of the diner’s aprons.

I couldn’t help laughing. “Okay… that’s adorable.”

“Right?” Jade popped up from behind the counter, glittery black cat ears perched on her head. “I told Philemon the skeleton needed a name.”

“And?” I asked, shrugging off my coat.

“We named him Kevin.”

I stared at the bony figure. “… Kevin actually suits him.”

“It does!” Jade declared triumphantly.

A booming laugh rolled out from the kitchen. “It absolutely does not,” Philemon called. “You girls are just feeding each other’s nonsense.”

Grinning, I headed to the staff room. A few minutes later I emerged in my work polo and black apron, name tag pinned neatly in place. My hair stayed in its usual high ponytail, but Jade insisted on clipping a tiny orange pumpkin pin to my apron strap.

“There.” She stepped back, hands on her hips, clearly proud. “Now you’re festive.”

“I look ridiculous.”

“You look cute.”

“I refuse to agree with you.”

“You don’t have to,” she said with a wink.

The lunch rush hit like a whirlwind. For the next several hours I barely had a moment to breathe, refilling endless coffee cups, sliding plates of burgers across the counter, blending thick milkshakes. A little girl in a princess costume proudly showed off her plastic tiara while her brother roared that he was “the scariest dinosaur ever.” An elderly couple lingered over their pancakes, complimenting the decorations. College students laughed loudly over pumpkin-spice everything. One customer dropped an entire basket of fries. Another spilled hot chocolate across the table. And somehow, Kevin the skeleton lost an arm.

It was pure chaos.

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11:05 Sat, Jul 18

Chapter 148

The best kind of chaos.

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By the time the clock finally crawled toward four, my feet throbbed and my lower back ached. Philemon waved me over while drying his hands on a towel.

“Go on,” he said.

I blinked. “What?”

“You’ve been sneaking glances at that clock every five minutes. Don’t even try to deny it.”

Jade snorted from the register. “It’s Halloween. Those little boys are probably counting every second until you get home.”

A soft smile tugged at my lips. “They are.”

“Then get out of here.” Philemon shooed me toward the staff room. “We’ve got this covered.”

I changed quickly back into my cream sweater, pulled on my coat, and grabbed my bag.

“Happy Halloween!” Jade called, adjusting her glittery black cat ears.

“You too.” I smiled. “You make a very glamorous cat.”

She struck another dramatic pose.

“I was aiming for mysterious.”

“You landed somewhere between mysterious and adorable.”

“I’ll take it.”

She laughed, the sound bright and warm. “We’re heading to a party after closing. You have fun tonight too.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “And try not to let any handsome vampires bite you.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mhm.”

I escaped before she could tease me any more.

The moment I stepped outside, a cool autumn breeze brushed my face. I zipped my coat higher. It was definitely colder than it had been this morning.

The streets buzzed with Halloween energy-children in tiny costumes skipping beside laughing parents, shop windows glowing with orange lights and flickering carved pumpkins.

By the time I reached the bus stop, the sky had softened into streaks of pink and deep indigo. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in a little warmth.

Then a strange chill crawled down my spine.

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11:05 Sat, Jul 18

Chapter 148

The fine hairs on the back of my neck rose. It felt… like someone was watching me.

I turned quickly.

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