The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Chapter 99

ASTRA

I never wanted her to meet Zane Ashton.

Unfortunately, my mother smiled.

Not a polite smile.

Not a cautious smile.

“The smile.”

The one that meant she had already decided she liked someone.

My soul left my body.

“Oh?” Mom said, looking between us with bright, curious eyes. “And who is this?”

“A mistake,” I said immediately.

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“Zane Ashton, ma’am,” he said at the exact same time, stepping further into the room and holding out his hand like a perfect gentleman.

Mom’s eyes widened slightly as she shook it.

“The Ashton?”

“No,” I said quickly.

“Yes,” Zane replied calmly.

I closed my eyes.

Mom looked delighted.

“It’s nice to meet you, Zane.”

“The pleasure is mine, ma’am.”

“Traitor.

Complete traitor.

Mom pointed at the chair beside her bed.

“Sit.”

To my horror, he did, without hesitation, like he’d been waiting for an invitation.

I watched in disbelief as one of the most feared students at school sat beside my mother looking perfectly respectable, back straight, expression polite, voice smooth.

This couldn’t be happening.

“So,” Mom said pleasantly, clearly charmed. “How long have you and my daughter been friends?”

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Chapter 99

“We’re not friends,” I blurted.

Zane leaned back slightly in the chair, looking completely unbothered.

“We live together,” he said smoothly, as if that explained everything. “I drive her to school most days.”

Mom’s eyebrows rose with interest.

“Oh? That’s very kind of you.”

I wanted to melt into the floor.

“Mom, it’s not like that,” I said desperately. “He’s… he’s just…”

Zane glanced at me, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement.

“Just what, Trouble?”

I shot him a death glare and he just smiled innocently.

Mom laughed softly, the sound weak but genuine.

“You two seem… interesting together.”

*Interesting.

That was one way to put it.

I stood there, cheeks burning, while Zane sat comfortably beside my mother like he belonged there, answering her gentle questions about school and the twins with surprising politeness.

Every time he called me “Trouble” in that low voice, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

This was a nightmare.

Then a soft knock sounded at the door before a nurse stepped in, carrying a tray with medication.

“Time for your afternoon meds, Mrs. Hawthorne,” she said kindly. “These might make you a little drowsy soon, so you should rest after.”

Mom nodded, already looking tired but content.

I moved quickly to her side, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug.

“I love you, Mom,” I whispered against her shoulder. “I’ll come back soon, okay?”

She hugged me back, surprisingly strong for how frail she sometimes seemed.

“I love you too, my star. More than anything.”

When I pulled back, Mom’s eyes shifted to Zane. She reached out and gently took his hand in both of hers. Her expression was soft, almost pleading.

“Zane,” she said quietly, “please take care of my star. She’s the only thing I have left in this world. She carries so much on her shoulders… I worry about her every day. Can you look after her for me?”

Zane didn’t hesitate.

He covered her hand with his larger one, voice low but surprisingly gentle, the most sincere I’d ever heard him sound.

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Chapter 99

“I will, ma’am,” he said. “I promise. Astra is safe with me. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

For a split second, something raw flickered in his green eyes, not charm, or arrogance… something I couldn’t quite understand. Almost Like the promise wasn’t just for her benefit.

Mom’s eyes shimmered with tears, but she smiled brightly, clearly moved.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You seem like a good young man. I’m glad she has you.”

I stood there stunned, heart twisting.

Zane helped me gather my things, then placed a hand lightly on my lower back as we walked out of the room. I glanced back once. Mom was already starting to doze off, a peaceful smile on her face.

The walk to the car was quiet.

Zane opened the passenger door for me without a word. I climbed in, still processing everything.

As he started the engine, I looked at him sideways.

“You didn’t have to say all that,” I whispered.

Zane kept his eyes on the road, his hand landed heavy on my thigh as we drove, fingers splayed possessively over the soft curve there. I hated how my body reacted, heat pooling low despite everything.

“I meant it,” he said simply.

I didn’t know what to say to that.

So I stayed silent the whole ride home, heart heavy with emotions I couldn’t even begin to untangle.

He’d seen all of me now. He’d seen the reality I tried so hard to hide: the sick mom, the bills, the girl who wasn’t thin or popular or easy. And instead of mocking me, he just… held my mother’s hand and promised to take care of me.

When we finally pulled into the Ashton estate, neither of us moved to leave the car.

The engine was off. The windows were up and the silence inside the car felt suffocating.

It was already past 6:00 PM. School had let out around 3:15, the committee meeting had run for about thirty minutes, then the drive to the hospital, the visit, and the drive back… time had slipped away.

The realization hit me like a cold splash of water. I was supposed to have tutoring lessons with him today.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything when Zane suddenly moved.

His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and yanking me toward him. In one swift motion, he pinned me back against the passenger seat, his powerful body leaning over me, caging me in.

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