The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Chapter 90

ASTRA

Sunday Afternoon

“Are you sure you’re okay, love?” Jason asked softly.

His warm hands cupped my cheeks, gently turning my face so he could look at me properly. We were sitting on the old wooden bench behind The Gridiron during my lunch break. He had come to see me, bringing my favorite/iced tea and a small bag of fries.

I tried to smile, but it felt wobbly.

“I’m fine,” I whispered.

His thumb brushed lightly over the fading red mark on my cheek. His violet eyes darkened with anger.

“No one should ever put their hands on you.”

I leaned into his touch, letting his gentleness soothe some of the ache in my chest.

“It’s okay, Jason. Really. It’s over now.”

He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me in a warm hug. I rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in his clean, comforting scent.

After a moment, he spoke again, voice hesitant but sincere.

“What if you came to work for my family instead? I could talk to my mom. We always need help around the house, cleaning, organizing, helping with events. You wouldn’t have to deal with situations where people slap you or treat you like that.”

My heart squeezed.

It was so sweet and kind. Jason was always trying to protect me, to make things easier.

But I shook my head gently.

“It’s fine, Jason. I like working with the Ashtons. The twins are amazing, and Elira has been really good to me. I don’t want to leave them.”

He sighed but nodded, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

“Okay. But if it ever gets too much, promise you’ll tell me?”

“I promise.”

He leaned in and kissed me, slow, warm, and gentle. His lips were soft, and for a moment I let myself sink into it. When he pulled back, he smiled.

“And…I was thinking… maybe we could go on a proper date sometime? Just us.”

I smiled back, even as my stomach twisted.

“Okay,” I said quietly.

Inside, my mind was screaming. Tuesday was coming fast. The debts and I still had no idea how I was going to survive it. A date felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford right now.

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Chapter 90

Jason stayed a little longer, making me laugh with silly stories until my break ended. When he finally left, I went back inside. waving goodbye with a heavy heart.

The rest of my shift passed in a blur. I worked until nine, smiling through the exhaustion. Philemon and Jade teased me lightly as I clocked out.

“Get some rest, girl,” Jade called. “You look like you need it.”

I waved at them both. “Goodnight!”

The walk to the bus stop felt endless. The night air was cool, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. I pulled out the small card the loan shark boss had given me and my fingers trembled as I dialed the number.

It answered on the second ring.

“Good evening, sir,” I said, voice barely above a whisper.

“Who is this?”

“It’s… it’s me. Astra Hawthorne.”

There was a pause, then that deep, chilling voice.

“Miss Hawthorne. How may I help you?”

I bit my lip until I tasted blood.

“I… I can’t pay the money by Tuesday.”

Another pause.

“So you’re open to working for me?”

Tears filled my eyes and I squeezed them shut.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good girl,” he said, sounding pleased. “I’ll send you the details.”

The call ended.

I stood there at the bus stop, phone still pressed to my ear, and burst into quiet sobs. Tears streamed down my face as the weight of what I’d just agreed to crashed over me.

I was going to have to sell myself.

And there was no one who could save me from it.

Tuesday Afternoon

I usually didn’t mind library duty.

It was quiet, peaceful, and one of the few places in school where I could actually breathe. As part of my scholarship requirements, I had to do eight hours of service a month, shelving books, helping with returns, and occasionally tutoring freshmen who wandered in looking lost. Today was one of those days.

I pushed the cart slowly down the aisle, sliding books back into their proper places. My cheek still ached a little from

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Catherine’s slap, but the swelling had gone down thanks to the ice and cream I kept applying. I kept my head low, hoping no one would notice the faint mark.

The library was mostly empty this time of day. Just the soft hum of the AC and the occasional rustle of pages.

Then the door opened.

I didn’t even need to look up. I felt him before I saw him.

Zane walked in wearing his black and gold letterman jacket, looking entirely too mouth watering good. Mrs Patel, the librarian, gave him a stern look and pointed toward the back shelves.

“Start with returns, Ashton.”

Zane smirked but didn’t argue. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me.

Our gazes locked.

My heart did a stupid little flip.

He grabbed a cart and started moving in my direction, slow and deliberate, like a predator who had all the time in the world. I quickly turned back to my own cart, pretending to be very focused on alphabetizing.

Of course he ended up in the same aisle as me.

He stopped a few feet away, pulling books off his cart and sliding them onto the shelf with surprising care. For a moment, the only sound was the soft thud of books finding their places.

Then his deep voice broke the silence.

“Hello, Trouble.”

I nearly dropped the book in my hands.

I whipped my head around, cheeks already heating. “No talking in the library,” I whispered furiously. “And what are you even doing here?”

Zane leaned against the shelf, and he kept his voice low this time around.

“Community service. Part of my suspension package. I get to play librarian, clean the stadium and locker rooms after practices, help set up equipment for the JV and freshman teams… and tutor some of the younger athletes on study skills.”

I blinked.

“Ohhh.”

Then he pouted, actually pouted, looking ridiculously handsome and annoyed at the same time.

“Yeah, Trouble. Not fair, right?”

I swallowed, trying to focus on the books instead of how close he was standing.

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