The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

ASTRA

“Oh honey, are you okay?” Elira rushed over, worry creasing her brow as she looked me over.

Before I could answer, Zatre spoke behind me.

“She ran into a problem on the street.”

His voice was flat.

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Elira’s eyes widened when she noticed my trembling hands and the way I clutched my cracked phone to my chest like a lifeline.

“Astra?” she asked softly. “What happened?”

“I’m okay,” I whispered quickly. “Really. It’s handled now.”

Zane let out a dark scoff. “Barely.”

I shot him a glare over my shoulder, cheeks warming.

Elira looked between us, sensing the tension, then focused on my face. The bruising under my eye had darkened, and my nose was still swollen from gym class.

Her expression softened immediately.

“Oh sweetheart…” she murmured, gently cupping my cheek. “You’ve had such a rough day.”

Something inside me cracked at the softness in her voice. I looked away quickly before I embarrassed myself by crying.

“I’m fine,” I repeated weakly.

“You keep saying that,” Zane muttered.

I stiffened.

Elira sighed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Come on. Let’s get you inside. You’re freezing.”

Only then did I realize I was shivering. The night air still clung to my damp hair and bare legs beneath the oversized hoodie.

As Elira guided me toward the living room, I became painfully aware of Zane following close behind.

Too close.

It made my stomach flip strangely.

The warm lights of the mansion washed over us. Everything smelled faintly of vanilla candles and expensive furniture.

Elira sat me down on the large cream couch, then disappeared toward the kitchen.

“I’m making tea,” she called. “And don’t argue with me, both of you.”

I blinked. “Both?”

“Yeah.” Zane said lazily from behind me. “Apparently I’m traumatized too.”

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11:51 Fri, Jul 3 DOJ

Chapter 37

.

I turned just in time to see him shrug off his leather jacket and toss it over a chair.

My breath caught.

God.

Why did he have to look like that?

15 veg

His black shirt stretched tight across his chest and shoulders, sleeves hugging his muscular arms. His dark hair was messy from the wind, and there was still a faint scrape across his knuckles from slamming the flasher into the car.

The violent memory should’ve scared me.

Instead, heat curled low in my stomach.

I hated myself a little for it.

Zane noticed me staring.

Of course he did.

That slow, arrogant smirk spread across his lips.

“See something you like, Trash-tra?”

My face burst into flames.

“No!”

“Mm.” He walked closer, stopping right in front of me. “Could’ve fooled me.”

“I was looking at your hand,” I muttered defensively. “It’s bruised.”

His eyes flicked down briefly. “It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing.”

He tilted his head, studying me with that intense gaze that always made my pulse trip.

“You worried about me, Trash-tra?”

“No,” I answered way too fast.

His smirk widened.

“Cute lie.”

I crossed my arms and looked away, trying to ignore how aware I was of him standing between my knees.

Big mistake.

Now all I could smell was cedarwood, clean sweat, and something dark that was just… Zane.

My heart started racing again.

He noticed.

He always noticed.

Chapter 37

I turned just in time to see him shrug off his leather jacket and toss it over a chair.

My breath caught.

God.

Why did he have to look like that?

His black shirt stretched tight across his chest and shoulders, sleeves hugging his muscular arms. His dark hair was messy from the wind, and there was still a faint scrape across his knuckles from slamming the flasher into the car./

The violent memory should’ve scared me.

Instead, heat curled low in my stomach.

I hated myself a little for it.

Zane noticed me staring.

Of course he did.

That slow, arrogant smirk spread across his lips.

“See something you like, Trash-tra?”

My face burst into flames.

“No!”

“Mm.” He walked closer, stopping right in front of me. “Could’ve fooled me.”

“I was looking at your hand,” I muttered defensively. “It’s bruised.”

His eyes flicked down briefly. “It’s nothing.”

look like nothing.”

tilted his head, studying me with that intense gaze that always made my pulse trip.

“You worried about me, Trash-tra?”

“No,” I answered way too fast.

His smirk widened.

“Cute lie.”

I crossed my arms and looked away, trying to ignore how aware I was of him standing between my knees.

Big mistake.

Now all I could smell was cedarwood, clean sweat, and something dark that was just… Zane.

My heart started racing again.

He noticed.

He always noticed.

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Chapter 37

Almost gentle.

It made my heart stutter.

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

“Like what?”

“Like you care.”

Zane’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes.

He leaned in closer, voice dropping to that dangerous velvet tone.

“I don’t care,” he murmured. “I just don’t like other people damaging what belongs to me.”

My breath caught.

His thumb brushed lightly beneath the bruise.

“You’re mine to break, Trash-tra. Not some random pervert’s. Not Brock’s. Not even Maya’s.”

The possessiveness in his voice sent heat rushing through me.

I hated how my body reacted.

I looked away, cheeks burning.

“You’re insane,” I whispered.

Zane smirked, slow and arrogant.

“Yeah. Maybe I am.”

He finally pulled the ice pack away and set it down. But he didn’t step back. He stayed right there, one hand braced on the back of the couch.

His eyes dragged slowly down my body.

“You look ridiculous in that thing,” he said flatly.

“It’s comfortable,” I muttered.

“It’s swallowing you whole.” His gaze lingered where the neckline had slipped. “Makes you look even smaller than you already are.”

I crossed my arms tighter. “Why do you care what I wear?”

“I don’t.” He smirked. “I just think it’s funny how you keep hiding those curves like they don’t exist.”

My face flamed.

I grabbed a pastry from the tray just to avoid looking at him.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re blushing again.”

“I am not.”

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Chapter 37

“You are.”

I ignored him, taking an aggressive bite.

Warm chocolate melted on my tongue.