The Truth About Air & Water (Truth in Lies #2) Read Free

already.” Then he focuses in on Linc. “Let’s face it; the Giants are looking good to make a real run this year and your stats are amazing.” He smiles but then it fades. “But fame can be a destructive monster. You two lead very complicated lives on the world’s stage already. Both of you will be tested in ways that a normal couple—sorry; I'm not sure how else to make my point—may never experience. I just feel it’s important to get this all out in the open. Marriage is not an easy road for anybody. I find it even harder for the most famous ones. I don’t want to discourage you, but I think you have some issues that need to be discussed. I’m not singling the two of you out by any means; I insist all the couples I marry be fully prepared, air things out before jumping into a lifetime commitment they aren’t ready for.”
    He sweeps his arm around the room. “Yes, I spend an extraordinary amount of time upfront asking about a couple’s relationship, and their wants and desires and expectations. If it makes you uncomfortable, I might not be the right one to marry you. That’s why I insist on meeting couples together. I’ve got this fantastic venue. Every couple, famous or not, wants to commit to each other in this little church that looks out over the Pacific and say their vows to one another and start their lives together. Fulfilling those wishes are never the problem, but finding couples who are really ready for all that follows remains a challenge. I like to ensure the ones I take on are fully prepared for the marriage part, the day after the guests go home.”
    Pastor Dan laughs a little, but neither one of us do.
    Then he looks intently at Linc, who looks seriously pissed off while I am the complete opposite—barely holding myself together. The last thing I want to do is break down in front of these two.
    “I’m not easy to love,” I say in an attempt to bridge the awkward silence and appeal to Linc’s happy side, but now he looks even more unhappy with me. “Tally,” he says.
    “Why would you say that? Even think it?” Pastor Dan asks, incredulous at my simple confession.
    “Because it’s true.” I turn to Linc. “I don’t know why you love me. I’m not sure that you should. I’ve always wondered that. Why do you love me? Why? It runs through my head all the time. And you want a son and I may not be able to give you one.”
    “That’s crazy talk, Tal. I love you because you’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met.”
    “Okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” the pastor says. “Linc, why is she so extraordinary? Incredible as you’ve said.”
    Linc turns to Dan and audibly sighs. “We’ve shared the same exact fears—falling, failing, losing. We’ve had our fair share of bad luck in our relationship, with others. And still we persevere. Tally does. She has this amazing strength to overcome the biggest challenges and come out on top, flying high like she does in her performances. And I love that about her. And she’s an extraordinary mom. The way she handles Cara is amazing. She gives infinite amounts of love and kindness to everyone she cares about and I want to be a part of that—Tally’s brand of love. I can’t imagine my life without her. I really can’t, so I asked her to marry me and she said yes.”
    Linc looks at me for a long moment, grabs my hands, and kisses them. Tears fill my eyes. His assurance takes away some of the heartbreak from his revelation minutes earlier. He breaks our gaze and he looks over at Dan.
    “I agree with you about probably needing to vet couples to ensure their eyes are wide open as to what marriage is all about, but Tally and I already know that and you should know that we’ve been tested more than most on that front. On fame and otherwise. We’re ready to take the next step. So whether that’s here in your church or someplace else I don’t care, I just want to marry this girl. Make her my wife and ensure she’s a part of my