Romance: Bad Boy Romance: Rough Play - A British Football Romance (Alpha Male Romance) (New Adult Sports Romance) Read Online Free Page B

not reply. He called her afterward, no reply .
    On the way home, he summoned all the self-discipline he had and drove straight past the pub.
    Maybe if he explained his secret, she would understand him better. It would explain his behavior, the late night drinking, the nightclubs, the women.  But could he trust her not to tell anyone? He'd lived with it for too long; it had eaten away at him for years. He felt inadequate and frightened that one day he would be the laughing stock of the country if it got out. But Amber would understand and help him; he was sure.
     
    *****
     
    ''Danny, what the hell, it's two am,'' Amber said after she'd looked through the spy hole in her apartment door.
    ''Sorry. I know. But I need to speak to you.''
    ''You scared me, coming here at this time.''
    ''I know. Just let me in for a minute, I promise I'll go away again.''
    Amber looked at him and stood aside. He entered the hallway and waited for her to close the door.
    ''What?'' she said.
    ''I can't read and write,'' he said.
    ''What?.''
    ''I need your help. I can't read, and I can't write.'' He began to cry.
    Amber felt desperately sorry for him, as well as deep shock at what he'd just revealed. She hugged him. ''Come on, sit down.'' He sat on the sofa and looked at her.
    ''You can't read and write?''
    ''No not a damn word. Not even my name. Why else do you think I party all the time? I'm shit scared it'll get out. If it does, just imagine how stupid I'll look. I do stupid stuff just to keep the tabloids off the scent. If they're reporting me getting drunk and screwing women, they're not digging into my school history.''
    ''My God, I never realized. You know it's really not that difficult to read and write. It won't take you long to learn.''
    ''Eleven years of school didn't teach me.''
    ''Because you weren't interested. You probably spent all your time with a ball on your foot.''
    ''Yes. I did.''
    ''Okay, I'll teach you.''
    He smiled. ''But don't tell anyone okay? It's more than my life's worth.''
    ''Of course, I won't.''
    ''You don't think I'm stupid to do you?'' he asked.
    ''No, of course, I don't. Danny, I'm sorry for doing what I did to you. I really like you, but Josephine got to me and told me I shouldn't be dating you.'' She squeezed his hand and looked at his fraught face. ''She told me all sorts about me being dragged into your court battles and made me worried it would affect my parents’ reputation. I was a bitch to you; I can see that now.'' She smiled at him and wiped a tear from his cheek. ''Stay with me tonight. I will make you feel better,'' she put his hand inside her robe. ''Let's forget what happened. Let's look to the future. And the future means you and me, and reading and writing.''
     
    *****
    ''Amber? What are yo doing with a book called, ''Elementary Reading and Writing for Adults?'' Josephine asked.
    Amber looked down at her bag which was on the floor next to her desk. The top was open, and the title of the book she'd bought for Danny was there for all to see. ''Er.....I'm just.....''
    ''He can't read can he?''
    ''Who?''
    ''Danny. Danny can't read and you're helping him.''
    ''Please don't tell anybody. He's so hurt by it . It's not his fault; he had a terrible childhood; nobody supervised him.''
    ''So out best footballer is a dunce. What a surprise,'' Josephine said sarcastically.
    ''He's not a dunce, he's a great guy. He just needs help that's all.''
    Josephine took a rubber band from her desk and played with it. ''Are you still seeing him?''
    ''Yes. I apologized for what I said to him. We are an item, and we will remain one.''
    ''Can't you find someone who is literate?''
    ''Fuck you, Josephine.'
    ''Ladies, ladies, what's going on?'' Joe asked.
    ''Amber is seeing Danny Constance. I don't think it's professional. And he can't read or write.'' Amber looked daggers at Josephine.
    ''Really?'' Joe said looking at Amber.
    ''Yes, I'm seeing him, and yes he can't read or write. But if it gets out the press will crucify