The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

ASTRA

I felt his eyes on me the entire time.

Even while I loaded the last of the supplies into the bus compartments and checked names off my list, I could feel Zane watching me. That heavy stare that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Jason stayed close, carrying the heavier boxes for me.

“You did great tonight, President,” he said quietly, bumping my shoulder. “Everything ran smoothly because of you.”

I gave him a tired smile. “Thanks. I just hope the team isn’t too upset about the tie.”

“They’ll survive.”

But his eyes kept drifting toward Zane standing with a few teammates nearby.

I pretended not to notice.

Eventually everyone boarded the buses. Most of the football team piled into their usual one, but a few players-including Zane-were redirected to the activity bus again.

Of course.

I climbed aboard and headed straight for the same seat from earlier, pressing my forehead briefly against the cool window.

The mood on the bus was heavy. Some players muttered under their breath while others sat in silence, clearly frustrated by

the tie.

The seat beside me dipped.

Zane.

He sat without a word, thigh pressing against mine immediately.

Too close.

The bus pulled away from Westbridge Academy, city lights fading behind us.

I kept staring out the window, trying to ignore how aware I was of him beside me. His body heat seeped into my side, his scent wrapping around me until it became hard to think straight.

Then he leaned closer.

“Stop doing that, Trash-tra.”

I stiffened. “Doing what?”

His gaze dropped to my mouth.

“Biting your lip.”

I blinked. “Why?”

For a second he just stared at me.

11:53 Fri, Jul 3

Chapter 46

Then his jaw flexed.

“Because it’s distracting.”

Heat rushed straight to my face.

I quickly looked away again, heart hammering.

But before I could stop myself, I bit my lip again.

Beside me, Zane went completely still.

Then a low sound left him. Not quite a laugh. Not quite a growl.

Slowly, I turned my head.

Big mistake.

He was already staring at my mouth again, eyes darker now.

Then suddenly his hand wrapped around my chin.

“Did I say you could do that again?” he asked quietly.

“I-I wasn’t….”

His thumb dragged my lower lip free from my teeth.

“You keep doing it.”

My pulse went wild.

The bus lights were dim now. Most people were exhausted, half asleep, distracted by music and conversations in the back.

Nobody was paying attention to us.

Which somehow made it worse.

“You trying to piss me off tonight?” he murmured.

“N-no.”

“Then stop acting stupid.”

His thumb lingered against my lip for one extra second before he finally leaned back slightly.

A dark smirk tugged at his mouth.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “You get flustered over everything.”

“I do not.”

“You’re literally shaking.”

“I’m tired.”

“You’re lying.”

I glared weakly at him.

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Chapter 46

His eyes narrowed before he leaned closer again.

“You know what your problem is, Trash-tra?”

My throat felt dry. “What?”

“You act scared of me…” His gaze dipped briefly to my mouth again. “But your body never does.”

My breath caught.

“That’s not true.”

“No?” His voice lowered. “Then why do you melt every time I touch you?”

Heat exploded across my face.

“Stop saying weird things.”

“If it’s weird, why’re you blushing so hard?”

“I hate you.”

“Mm.” His mouth twitched. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I opened my mouth to argue…

The bus suddenly hit a pothole.

I gasped as my body lurched sideways straight into him.

Zane caught me instantly, one arm sliding around my waist before I could fall awkwardly into the aisle.

The movement left me half in his lap.

Everything froze.

His arm stayed locked around my waist, strong and warm.

And the look on his face…

Oh God.

Like he liked me there..

Way too much.

From somewhere in the back, Tyler shouted, “Yo, driver! You trying to kill us or what?!”

Laughter erupted across the bus, but neither of us moved.

Zane looked down at me slowly.

“See?” he murmured. “Always ending up on me somehow.”

My entire body went rigid.

“I think I should sit in the back.”

I scrambled to stand.

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11:53 Fri, Jul 3 ·

Chapter 46

A hand grabbed the front of my hoodie and yanked me right back down.

I squeaked as I bounced against him again, his arm immediately tightening around my waist.

“Sit down,” Zane said flatly.

“Zane!”

A few heads turned before Tyler yelled sonicthing else stupid and distracted everyone again.

Meanwhile I was dying.

“You can’t just drag people around!”

“You were being dramatic.”

“I was trying to MOVE!”

“Yeah.” His grip tightened slightly. “I noticed.”

I glared at him, but it lost all power when I realized how trapped I still was between his chest and the window.

His eyes dragged slowly over my face.

Then lower.

My stomach flipped.

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

“Like what?”

“Like…” I swallowed hard. “Like you’re thinking bad things.”

A dark smirk appeared.

“That’s the problem, Trash-tra. I’m always thinking bad things about you.”

My breath caught painfully hard.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“You can’t just say things like that!”

“Makes you nervous?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re actually insane.”

“And you’re sitting in my lap.”

I immediately tried moving again.

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Chapter 46

Big mistake.

The shift pressed my thighs harder against him for one horrifying second.

Zane went completely still beneath me.

The air changed instantly.

His hand flexed hard against my waist.

“Oh my God,” I whispered, mortified.

His jaw tightened sharply.

“Careful,” he said quietly.