The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The words landed like ice picks. Sharp and familiar

9440

#55 vouchers

I felt that familiar coldness settle over me, the one that made everything quieter, sharper and like the world slowed down and I could see every weak point in the man sitting across from me.

1 finally looked up and met his eyes.

“You finished?” I asked, voice flat.

Landon’s expression hardened. “Watch your tone. I can make one call tomorrow and have you pulled from the team until your grades are fixed. Don’t test me, boy.”

I smiled.

It wasn’t a nice smile.

“Do it,” I said softly. “Pull me. Let the whole school watch the great Landon Ashton bench his own son right before playoffs. Should make for great boardroom conversation.”

For a split second, something ugly flashed across his face, real anger, the kind he usually kept buried under expensive suits and perfect smiles.

Then the mask slid back into place.

“Fix it,” he said coldly, “I don’t care how. Hire tutors. Cheat. I don’t give a shit. But you will not drag this family’s reputation through the mud because you’re too busy being a disappointment.”

He picked up his phone, effectively dismissing me.

‘Get out of my office.”

I didn’t move for a moment. Just stared at him. Memorizing the way his hand tightened around the phone. The slight twitch in his jaw.

Then I turned and walked out without another word.

The coldness stayed with me all the way upstairs.

By the time I reached the second floor, my hands had stopped shaking.

But the rage?

That was still there.

Burning low. Controlled.

And looking for somewhere soft to pour itself into.

Somewhere with long blonde hair, thick thighs, and a habit of making me lose every ounce of

2/6

11:33 am P P P P

Chapter 16

Control + had.

€ 55 vouchers

Astra.

I didn’t even think about it. I just followed the sound of laughter drifting through the open balcony

doors.

I stepped outside onto the upper terrace that overlooked the backyard. The evening light was soft, golden. And there she was.

In the treehouse.

She was on her knees on the wooden platform, wearing a simple white tank top that had ridden up her back and a pair of soft gray shorts that hugged the full, plump curve of her ass and thick thighs like they were made for sin. Her long blonde hair was tied in a messy ponytail, a few strands sticking to her flushed cheeks. She looked soft, curvy and real.

Completely fucking edible.

ī

She was laughing, that bright, genuine sound while helping Lucas balance on a rope bridge they’d rigged up between branches. Mason was sitting on the edge, legs swinging, actually smiling as she pretended to be a “dragon” chasing them.

She was so natural with them. Warm. Patient. Like she belonged here.

It made something ugly twist in my chest.

*That’s why I hate her.*

Because she made everything look easy. Because she didn’t break no matter how hard I pushed. And now she was the one thing in this house that didn’t feel like it belonged to my father.

And I wanted to ruin it.

I wanted to ruin her.

I moved down the stairs silently and crossed the backyard. The twins spotted me first.

“Zane!” Lucas yelled excitedly. “Come play! Astra’s the dragon!”

Astra’s head snapped toward me. Her smile faltered the second our eyes met. That familiar mix of fear and something hotter flashed across her face.

I climbed the ladder to the treehouse in a few easy movements and stepped onto the platform. The space felt smaller with me in it.

“Inside. Both of you,” I told the twins, voice cold. “Dinner soon.”

Lucas whined but obeyed. Mason gave Astra one last look before following his brother down.

3/6

11:33 am pppp.

Chapter 16

Now it was just us.

354 vouchers

Astra stood up slowly brushing wood chips off her knees. The tank top clung to the heavy swell of her breasts, the soft pooch of her stomach visible where the fabric had ridden up. Those gray shorts looked criminal on her.

“Zane…” she started, voice cautious.

I didn’t let her finish.

**Chapter 17 (continued)**

I grabbed her wrist and yanked her closer, backing her up until her back hit one of the thick wooden beams of the treehouse.

“Trash–tra,” I growled low, the nickname dripping with venom and hunger. “You really think you can just play happy family in my backyard?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide behind her glasses.

For a second she looked scared

–

really scared. Then her chin lifted, even as her voice shook.

‘Get your hands off me, Zane,” she said, trying to sound brave. “I was just playing with your brothers. That’s literally my job.”

I didn’t let go. Instead, I stepped closer, crowding her against the wood, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look at me.

“Your job?” I laughed, the sound ugly even to my ears. “Your job is to stay in your lane. Not prance around my house in tiny shorts, charming the chef, smiling at my father like you’re somebody, and now playing mommy in the fucking treehouse like you belong here.”

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t back down.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify