Force: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

I really do like it.
“Just hurry up and show me my surprise.” She swats my arm lightly, pretending to be annoyed, but I don’t miss the way she pushes back against me.
I move my hands down to her hips and pick her up without warning.
“Tucker!” she squeals, grabbing onto my shoulders as her feet leave the ground.
“I got you.” Her face softens at my words, and a playful smile pulls at the edges of her lips. She’s intoxicating. “Keep those eyes closed,” I demand, giving her a swift kiss. When I pull back, I swear I see her roll her eyes, even though they stay tightly closed.
Making sure everything is set up just right, I gently pull Brooke back so she’s resting against my chest. “You can open your eyes now,” I say, leaning in to speak against her ear.
“Tuck—” She gasps softly, looking down at the soft quilt that’s spread over the back of the truck. “Where did you find this?” she asks, running her hand over the soft cotton reverentially.
“I asked you mom if she still had it.”
“We’ve had some fun times on this old quilt.” She giggles, a faint pink blush coating her cheeks, no doubt remembering all the times I laid her on this very same blanket and made love to her. I’m pretty sure we lost our virginity to each other on it when we were both seventeen.
We're back in Savannah. For me it’s the first time since I left here as an angry eighteen-year-old. Not much has changed. Well, none of the important places. I’ve not bothered to reach out to my dad. As far as I know he’s still in the same house I grew up in, but I’ve got no interest in catching up on old times with him.
We’re here to see Brooke’s family. When I learned that she hardly ever came back here after leaving, I felt guilt. She loved it here, but like me, she didn’t want to face the memories. I understood that the second we arrived here. Everything brings back memories. All of mine link to Brooke.
“The old truck is gone, but we’ve got your mother’s quilt and this.” Pulling out my phone, I press play on the song that’s lined up ready to play.
“Tucker—” Brooke sobs as the first notes of “Yellow” by Coldplay rings out through the speaker. She buries her face against my chest, and it’s not long before her warm tears leak through the thin cotton of my shirt.
“You’re not supposed to cry, baby.” I tilt her chin up so I can see her damp face. So fucking beautiful.
“Happy tears,” she croaks, reaching up to cup my cheek in her hand. Dragging her body up mine, I lean us back so we’re laying on the quilt. Chest to chest, I pull her in for a kiss. It's a soft, gentle brush of lips on lips. The taste of the strawberry lip crap she uses all the time is addicting. It doesn’t go any further; it’s just about us being connected, here in this moment.
“Do you remember the last time we were here?” I ask when we finally come up for air. She’s quiet for a second, and I think she must have forgotten. She rests her head against my chest just like she did that day.
“I’m going to marry you one day, Tucker Neal.” It’s barely a whisper, but those nine words are the best I think I've ever heard.
Sweet relief.
She remembers.
“I suppose you better start wearing this then.” I sigh, pulling out the ring that’s been burning a hole in my pocket for the last few weeks. It’s probably too big for her tiny finger, the series of diamond-encrusted white and rose gold bands all knotting together to surround the huge square diamond. When I had it designed, I told them I wanted something to represent us, tied together forever.
“What?” Brooke gasps. Pushing off my chest and sitting up, her mouth drops open and closes again as she searches for something to say.
“Marry me,” I declare, not bothering to ask, because I’m not giving her the chance to say no. “I want you to be my wife. I want you by my side forever.
“Yes. A million times yes!” she cries. Both of our hands are shaking as I slide the ring on her finger.
“I’m going to love the fuck out of you forever,” I say against her lips, and then I spend the rest of the day making love to my future wife under the late Savannah sun.

EPILOGUE TWO
BROOKE
One year later
“There’s still time to escape. I could have us out of here and in another state before anyone would even know it,” Duke whispers against my hair as he holds me tightly.
“I don’t know, Dad. I’m kinda excited to wear my dress.” His huge body moves as he chuckles.
“You kids and your mom…” He sighs, pushing me back so he can look me in the eyes. “Hands down, best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Stop making me cry,” I say in a wobbly voice.
“Love you, kid.”
“Love you too.”
“Okay, that’s it! No more mushy shit,” Bailey announces as she wipes her tears away. “I refuse to have a splotchy face for the pictures.”
“I’m going to get dressed. I’ll see you in a little while.” With one last kiss pressed to my hair, Duke leaves my mom and sister to make a fuss of me.
“Your boobs look insane in that dress!” Bailey gasps as Mom pulls the zip at my back into place.
“Bailey!” Mom gasps back at her, but she’s not really surprised. My sister rarely engages her filter before she speaks, so we’re all used to the inappropriate things she spews on occasion.
“What? I’m not lying! Tucker’s going to swallow his tongue when he sees her like this.”
“Is it too much?” Moving to the floor standing mirror, I get the first full look at myself with my hair done, makeup on, and my dress. When I picked it, I thought I'd feel