The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

ASTRA

I shut

my bedroom door behind me and flopped face-down onto the bed, dropping my school bag onto the floor with a heavy thud.

“Hi, Patches,” I whispered, voice cracking as I pulled the worn brown teddy bear into my arms and hugged him tight against my chest.

The tears I’d been holding back all day finally spilled over, hot and silent, soaking into his fur.

I buried my face in him, shoulders shaking.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Patches,” I whispered brokenly. “I’ve been racking my brain the whole day trying to figure out where I can get that kind of money. I can’t ask Elira for an advance. I just started working here, and the tutoring with Zane only just began. They won’t pay me yet.”

My voice broke again.

“I’m so tired. I’m working two jobs, going to school, taking care of the twins, and now this. If I don’t pay them… they said they’ll… I can’t even think about it. I’m scared, Patches. Really scared.”

I hugged him tighter, crying quietly into his soft fur. The weight of everything, the debt, Zane’s terrifying intensity, the rumors Maya was spreading felt like it was crushing me.

Suddenly my bedroom flew open.

“Astra! Astra! Come see what I got!” Lucas’s excited voice filled the room as he burst in, waving a paper in his hand.

I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and sat up, forcing a smile even though my voice was still thick. “Lucas, you’re supposed to knock, sweetie.”

Mason appeared behind him, looking apologetic. “I told him to knock.”

Lucas rushed straight to me and then stopped suddenly, tilting his head. His little face scrunched up in concern.

“Are you crying, Astra?”

I shook my head fast, blinking back fresh tears. “No, no. I’m okay. Just… allergies. What did you get?”

His eyes lit up again as he thrust the paper at me. It was his latest math test, a big red 92% circled at the top.

“Look! I got an A minus! The teacher said I improved so much because of your help!”

Pride pushed through the heaviness in my chest for a moment. I pulled him into a hug, ruffling his hair. “That’s amazing. Lucas. I’m so proud of you. You worked really hard.”

Mason smiled from the doorway. “He’s been telling everyone on the way home.”

I laughed softly, the sound a little watery. “Have you boys eaten yet?”

They both shook their heads.

“Not yet,” Mason said.

“Okay. Go downstairs and wait for me. Let me quickly change and I’ll come make something nice for you, alright?”

Chapter 78

They nodded and ran off, Lucas still waving his test paper excitedly.

I waited until the door closed before letting out a long, shaky breath. The twins always knew how to make me smile, even on the worst days.

I stood up, peeled off my uniform including Zane’s jersey underneath, and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water helped a little, washing away the tears and some of the tension, but the knot in my stomach stayed.

After drying off, I went to my walk-in closet and opened the drawer for fresh panties.

My hand froze.

At the very top was my favorite pair of pale pink cotton panties. The ones I’d worn two days ago.

There was something white and crusty all over the crotch area, dried, flaky patches that looked strange. I picked them up confused, and brought them closer to my face to inspect.

It smelled… musky, salty and weird. Not like anything I’d ever smelled on my own clothes before.

My brows furrowed.

What….??

I rubbed a little between my fingers. It felt stiff and dry.

And then it hit me.

My eyes widened in horror.

No.

This couldn’t be…

My stomach dropped like a stone as the realization slammed into me. My face burned with shame and disgust.

Someone had… in my room. On my panties.

And I knew exactly who.

Zane.

That sick, twisted, creepy……Ahhhhhh

I stood there, still holding the ruined pink panties between my fingers like they might burn me. My face felt hot with humiliation and pure rage. He had come into my room while I was at school and… done that all over my underwear.

What kind of disgusting pervert does that?

I wanted to scream. I wanted to march to his room and throw them in his face. I wanted to call him every name I could think of, creep, psycho, perverted asshole.

Instead, I shoved the panties deep into the trash bin in my bathroom, burying them under tissues and wrappers so I wouldn’t have to look at them again. There was no way I was ever wearing those again. Ever.

My hands were shaking as I quickly picked out a simple pair of black cotton panties, a loose gray t-shirt, and soft sweatpants. I got dressed fast, still fuming.

*He thinks he can just invade my space like that? Touch my things? Mark them like some kind of animal?*

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Chapter 78

I took a deep breath, wiped my face one more time, and forced myself to calm down before heading downstairs

The kitchen smelled warm and comforting. Chef Marco was already there, plating pasta and grilled chicken for the twins He gave me a kind nod.

“Miss Astra. I thought I’d help with lunch today.”

“Thank you,” I said softly, inanaging a small smile.

The boys were already at the table. I sat with them, making sure Lucas ate properly, he was still recovering and picky about food. I cut his chicken into small pieces and playfully bribed him with “one bite for each spaceship you build later.” He finally ate everything. Mason ate quietly but steadily, occasionally glancing at me like he could tell something was off.

After they finished, I asked casually, “Have you boys seen Zane?”

Nadine, one of the kitchen staff, was wiping down the counter nearby. “He went out with Mr. Ashton earlier.”

I nodded, trying to hide my relief. Tutoring was supposed to be today, but at least I didn’t have to face him right now.

I spent the next couple of hours with the twins in their room, helping Mason and Lucas with their history homework. Then we played with Legos until they got tired. Their laughter helped ease some of the heaviness in my chest.

When Elira finally returned from work, the boys rushed to her like little hurricanes, hugging her legs and showing off Lucas’s test score.

Elira laughed softly, hugging them back. She looked tired but beautiful as always and her eyes found me.

“Astra, how was your day, dear?”

“It was… okay,” I said, smiling. “Busy with Spirit Week preparations. Everything is almost ready for tomorrow’s game and dance.”

She brightened. “Speaking of tomorrow, the Homecoming dance. Do you have a date?”

All eyes turned to me. Even the twins stared curiously.

I felt my cheeks warm. “Um… yes. I do.”

Lucas gasped dramatically. “Who? Who? Is it a boy from school?”

Mason nudged him. “Obviously it’s a boy.”

Elira smiled warmly. “That’s wonderful. I have something for you, a dress I think you’ll love. We can try it on later if you’d like.”

Before I could respond, heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway.

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