The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Chapter 85

ZANE

Saturday Evening

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The gym echoed with the heavy clang of weights and the pounding bass in my headphones. Shirtless and drenched in sweat, I powered through another set of deadlifts, muscles burning.

My mind wasn’t here. It was on Astra-the way that dress had clung to her curves last night, the spyware feeds showing her texting that weak-ass Jason, and how badly I wanted to drag her into my room and finish what we’d started.

I didn’t hear the door open.

Slim arms suddenly snaked around me from behind, pressing against my abs. A cloying, flowery perfume hit me- expensive and completely wrong. Not strawberries. Not Astra.

I dropped the barbell with a deafening clang and ripped my headphones down. Grabbing her wrists, I yanked her off and spun around, jaw clenched.

Maya stood there in a tiny, skin-tight red dress that barely skimmed her ass, the plunging neckline putting her perky tits on full display. Her long dark hair cascaded over one shoulder, makeup flawless like she was clubbing, not attending my mother’s private event.

She smiled up at me, biting her lip.

“I knew I’d find you here, baby,” she purred, stepping closer. “When I didn’t see you in your bedroom, I figured you’d be working out like always.”

I stared at her coldly. “Why the hell are you looking for me? You’re supposed to be downstairs with everyone else.”

Maya pouted, that fake, dramatic hurt she weaponized so well. She stepped even closer, manicured hand sliding onto my bare chest. “Why did you dump me, Zane? No closure, nothing. I did nothing wrong. We were so good together. I know you still want me… I see the way you look at me sometimes.”

I grabbed her wrist and removed her hand. “Maya. We’re done. I don’t owe you closure. I don’t owe you shit.”

Her eyes glistened with on-demand tears. “But I love you,” she whispered, voice cracking. “I gave you everything. After all the times we…”

“Stop.” I stepped back, patience fraying. “Go downstairs. Enjoy the party. Leave me the fuck alone.”

She stared at me, lips trembling. Then her expression sharpened into something venomous.

“Is this because of that fat nanny?” she spat, the word dripping with disgust. “Astra? That pathetic little nerd who used to hide in the library like a loser? You’re really choosing her over me?”

My jaw flexed. Hearing Astra’s name in her mouth made something dark and ugly twist in my chest.

“Get out, Maya.”

She didn’t move. Instead, she turned the tears up another notch, stepping closer again. “No. I told my parents everything. Daddy’s already talking to yours. We’re meant to be together-our families, the whole school knows it. You can’t just throw me away like this.”

My patience snapped.

Before I could tell her exactly where to shove her “meant to be,” Maya reached up and yanked the top of her dress down in

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Chapter 85

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one quick motion. Her perky tits spilled free, nipples hard. She grabbed my hand and pressed it firmly against one, squeezing my fingers around the soft flesh.

“Touch me, Zane,” she breathed, leaning in to press wet, desperate kisses along my cheek and jaw. “Please, baby. I know you still want me…”

The gym door creaked open.

“Zaneeeee, Mom says you should….”

Lucas’s chirpy voice died mid-sentence.

I looked up sharply.

Lucas stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide. Right behind him… Astra.

She held Lucas’s hand, dressed in a simple black top and jeans, golden hair tied back. Those big blue eyes locked onto the scene-Maya’s tits out, my hand still on one, Maya’s lips on my cheek.

For a split second, something raw flashed across Astra’s face.

Maya gasped theatrically and yanked her dress back up. “Oops,” she said with a sugary giggle, not sorry in the slightest. She flipped her hair and sauntered toward the door, deliberately slamming her shoulder hard into Astra on the way out.

“Sorry you had to see that, Lucas,” she cooed sweetly as she passed. Her heels clicked down the hallway like nothing had happened.

Lucas blinked, confused. “Um… Mom says you should come downstairs now.”

I flexed my hand like it had been burned and wiped it viciously on my sweatpants. Astra wouldn’t meet my eyes. Her cheeks burned red, pretty blue eyes fixed on the floor. She turned to leave without a word, gently tugging Lucas along.

“Trouble,” I called.

She didn’t stop.

I stood there, chest tight. Fuck. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, Maya had thrown herself at me. I was pushing her away. So why did Astra look at me like I’d just gutted her?

I wiped my hand again, trying to erase the feel of Maya’s skin. Disgusting.

Then it hit me.

The way her eyes had widened. That flash of raw emotion before she looked away.

Satisfaction unfurled slow and hot in my veins.

She was jealous.

“My Trouble was jealous.

The realization lit me up. It meant she cared. It meant no matter how hard she hid behind that boyfriend charade, she still felt me. Still wanted me. The nerd who’d somehow crawled under my skin was cracking.

But this wasn’t how I wanted it to happen.

Fucking Maya. Always ruining shit at the worst possible time.

I left the gym and headed straight to my room. A scalding shower scrubbed every trace of Maya’s perfume and touch from

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