Read What If (Willowbrook Book 2) for Free Online Page B

amped-up parties, one right after the other. Tess had the time and the money. However, in the back of his mind, he understood a different truth. At the age of nineteen and coming from old money, Tess didn’t have the responsibility Emma had.
    Emma . . . shit, Emma worked hard to get where she was at. She’d put herself through college, gotten a degree in geology, and now had a job she liked—educator with the Red Cross.
    He shoved more pizza into his mouth. Even her career choice had been predictable and safe. For shit’s sake, Emma went to businesses and gave spiels on how to prepare for disasters. Drew didn’t think Emma had a risk-taking bone in her body.
    Yet, three weeks ago, Emma had crashed his party and his ride. His ride . He gnawed on a fried chicken leg before ripping off a thick piece with his teeth. He chewed slowly this time. Otherwise, he was afraid he’d be a jerk again and call her out for keeping secrets. Not just about the pregnancy but her riding. She had handled his Ducati like an experienced rider rather than the passive passenger she’d been when they’d taken his Kawasaki for a drive.
    He swallowed the dry piece of chicken, past the lump in his throat. Since the day she’d asked him to keep their relationship a secret, he had suspected something bad had happened. Back then, he hadn’t pushed her. He’d loved her too much and had thought with time, she’d give him the reason.
    Time. Four years .
    On his flight here, he’d mulled over their relationship and had come to a realization. Emma hadn’t trusted him , Drew Hazard, badass quarterback, to keep her safe. Safe . He was beginning to like that word.
    Right then and there, he vowed to do the one thing he believed he was lacking in regard to Emma. He’d keep her safe. Safe from what scared the hell out of her—the public limelight.
    As to their unborn child . . . the easy thing to do would be to outright ask her if she was pregnant. Yet, he wasn’t willing to let Emma off the hook so easily. The jackass side of him wanted to see her squirm with discomfort for withholding the truth from him while a big part of him needed Emma to trust him enough to be forthcoming.
    Otherwise, what kind of future could they have together if there wasn’t trust? He grabbed a napkin off the tray and wiped the grease off his fingers before he threw the napkin back onto the tray.
    He’d hold to his word and do the one thing that went against what his mind screamed at him not to do. He would break Emma Lombardi’s heart.
     
     

Chapter Eight
    Emma’s attention strayed to the emptiness around his neck, where the key to her heart used to be. There were so many questions she wanted to ask: Where is your girlfriend? Why’d you leave the key and chain where I’d find it? Why do I love and miss you so much I hurt?
    Yet, she didn’t. Forget her and Drew. Chance needed their help.
    “Drew?” She traced Chance’s name on top of the covers.
    “Hmm?” He swiped a napkin across his mouth then set the crumpled mess on top of his plate.
    “I have a favor to ask. First, you didn’t really answer my question. Why are you keeping to yourself?” She stopped her tracing. He’d said Willowbrook was his safe haven. He wasn’t giving her the full truth. “I thought you’d be home celebrating your win.”
    “Jones instructed I lay low. Between the broken bones, the partying, and my . . .” He cleared his throat. “My altercation with the paparazzi, he figured I needed a quiet place to think. I completely agreed.”
    Ironic. Since getting picked in the NFL draft right out of college, Drew had wanted to shine. Now that his time had arrived, his people had told him to take a back seat. It must be hard. Laying low was definitely not the Drew Hazard way.
    Feeling a sudden impulse to comfort him, she reached out and caressed the side of his unshaven face. Rough yet soft, an alluring mix of boyish charm and hunky sexiness. Her fingers lingered a little too long, and