Based loosely on TRR by Pixelberry publishing. Author’s Notes: Characters owned by Pixelberry studios, I have no claim to the characters in this story other than my MC.
Though this story is loosely based on the same characters and my MC (Cindy Jo Beckett) also called (Jo or affectionately Jo Jo) the story comes through a little differently with my MC having had a dark painfully hard upbringing. Her past will unfold as the story is told. Main characters remain in this story and maybe later some new ones. Timeline of Choices: Pixleberry story will vary.
Summary: This Drake -x -MC AU will be focused on a chance meeting where Liam didn’t meet her in New York only Drake by chance…..later after this series is complete , I will rewrite the series where Liam becomes a LI as well. So prepare for a slow burn and some angst: I hope you like it. Face claims Cote De Pablo (Cindy Jo) and Matt Bommer (Drake) Tom Selleck (Uncle Mitch) Catch Previous Chapter Here: message me and I send it to you can’t figure out how to include previous posts.
She cleans up after them placing the whiskey back behind the bar and locking up on their way out she says my apartments only a few blocks from here. As they are walking she grabs his arm and says hold on and removes her high heels while bracing herself against him. He laughs and says “why do you wear those things if they are so uncomfortable?” She simply states I don’t think my boots would have matched matter of factly. Ok this is it they enter her building and take the elevator to the 5th floor…she has the corner apartment; She unlocks the door and ushers him in and says welcome to my home earnestly. He walks in admiring the modest apartment she sees an amused look on his face and she says “what?” He walks through the living room area admiring her photos everywhere and says nothing it’s just not what I expected that’s all.” What did you expect? she asks” He said I don’t know the way you were dressed tonight I expected something a little more high end I guess.” She smiles and says nah that’s not me I just need the essentials I like to live simply…he waits a beat and says me too. Looking at her photos he says “are these all friends and family?” Ya she says. He stops at one in particular of an older gentleman and a horse and says “this is a great shot is that your father?”
She smiles warmly with a hint of a sad smile and says no that’s my Uncle Mitch, her voice cracks a little when she says he and my Uncle Tom raised me since I was fourteen….he stammers a little and says “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.” No its ok it’s not like you could have known, She clears her throat and fights back her tears and says I uh lost my father when I was twelve and then I lost my mother when I was fourteen. Seeing her turn away and wipe a couple of tears he decides to change the subject and says it’s a great photo did you grow up on the ranch in the photo?” I did she says and I took that photo…actually I took all the photos in here except the one of my parents there. He looks at here with a surprised smirk on his face and she smiles laughing a little and says what?” He looks at her with an expression of amazement and says “nothing it’s that just when I think you can’t impress me anymore than you already have you go and surprise me again.” (He nervously sticks his hands in his pockets as she says “so what time is your flight tomorrow?” he says 9am out of JFK.” Cindy Jo looks at her watch and says wow it’s already 2:30 am I better let you get some shut eye!” Come on I’ll show you around; she shows him the restroom and the spare bedroom across the hall. She sates “I probably have some clothes that you can fit if you’d like to shower and sleep comfortably.” He raises his brows and says keep your boyfriends clothes around do ya?” No she chides they are my Uncle’s he keeps clothes here for when he comes to visit from Texas. Shower wouldn’t hurt that would be great thanks he says graciously.
As he showers she changes into her short pajama shorts and a tank top, leaving her master bedroom she walks into the spare room to lay out his clothes for him. Just as she’s laying them on his bed he walks in wearing only a towels wrapped around his waist carrying his clothes. She stops in her tracks and eyes him in awe from the floor up noticing his prominent abs and the V-muscle disappearing into his towel. (All the while she is checking him out he doesn’t notice because standing there looking at here in her sleep clothes his quietly thinking Jesus she’s gorgeous her clothes a little tight and her hair up in a messy bun with loose strands of hair falling around her perfectly heart shaped face) He gulps letting out a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding and she blushes clearing her throat saying huh here’s some clothes you can sleep in it’s just a pair of joggers and an old t-shirt; well good night Drake a please make yourself at home…he half smiles and says good night Beckett. As she walks past him and into the hallway he says hey Beckett…yeah she says turning on her heel to face him. He says thanks for everything tonight it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I’m glad she smiles; well I’ll see you in the morning I guess….Cindy Jo returns to her bedroom closing the door behind her and climbs into her bed.
I don’t think I’m going to get a wink of sleep….Drake is hands down the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, and he’s sleeping here in my apartment. Stop it Jo you don’t hook up with complete strangers….Uncle Mitch and Tom would kill me if they knew I let a complete stranger from another Country spend the night with me. She tosses and turns trying to drift off to sleep, lying on her back staring at the projection clock on here ceiling counting the seconds she knows she’s not going to be able to sleep. Uggh she groans throwing the covers off herself she quietly sneaks into the kitchen and starts to warm milk on the stove like her momma used to do for her when she couldn’t sleep. The only good thing that came with no sleep was at least she wouldn’t have to worry about her reoccurring nightmares. She sets quietly at the kitchen island sipping her warm milk.
I can’t believe she invited me back to sleep in her apartment… she’s too sweet for her own good taking mental note to scold her in the morning for letting a perfect stranger into her home in the middle of the night. God she looked so good in her sleep wear hasn’t she ever heard of loose fitting pajamas? She’s beautiful when she dresses for an occasion or in just PJ’s without a stitch of make-up on; she says she likes to live simply I wonder if she’d like living at the cabin back home. Shut up Drake that will never happen she’s amazing she deserves someone who could give her the world not someone like me. Ughh he sighs I’m thirsty I wonder if I could sneak into the kitchen for something without waking her.
Drake tiptoes into the kitchen when he opens the fridge to find a drink she gives him a start with her quiet voice asking “couldn’t sleep huh?” “Jesus Beckett what are you doing sitting in the kitchen in the dark?” I’m sorry she laughs I truly didn’t mean to scare you…Well you did damn it he half laughs still holding his hand over his chest. Well since neither of us are going to get any sleep how bout’ some breakfast?” Sure Drake says let me just go get changed and then…she interrupts him curiously wondering why would you need to go get changed?” Well if we’re going to go out for breakfast then I need to put my clothes back on don’t ya think?” Cindy Jo laugh egregiously saying I’m not going out to eat somewhere at four in the morning…gazing into his confused stare she says I meant I will make us some breakfast. Drake smiles and dryly says “are you a good cook Beckett?” I grew up in Texas raised by two Uncles what do you think Drake?” How about she asks while opening the fridge bacon, fired eggs oooh and some pancakes? Sounds great want some help?” No I got it she says graciously some OJ?” Sure he says so why don’t you tell me about Texas Beckett what was it like growing up on a farm?” A Ranch she corrects him…it was great after I adjusted to the loss of my parents. I got into horses a lot, I barrel raced some. I played every sport in high school except football. Drake snickers a little and exclaims well I should hope so.” What you don’t think girls can play football? “I actually wanted to play she states with a toothy grin but between all the sports I did play, FFA and the rodeos my Uncle Mitch felt it would be too much so I didn’t play he got me to do cheer instead she grumbled.” Drake laughs and said is there anything you didn’t do?” Not much Cindy Jo smiled…I don’t know I guess after my parents I just wanted to stay busy you know kind of out of sight out of mind sort of thing.”
She clears her throat and passes Drake a plate… “You got any syrup Beckett?” he politely asked Oh yeah here ya go its homemade from one of my neighbors back home. He slowly pours the syrup over his pancakes and she watches as he takes a bite. MMMM oh my god Beckett this is…..he says with a mouth full GR-E-A-T!” I’m glad you like it dig in she laughs….you know she grins my Momma used to always say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I didn’t understand that until I learned to cook well I always kept my Uncles stomachs full after that and they seemed happy. “Uncle Mitch said if I could teach some of the women that used to chase him to cook like that that he would have married one of them.” Drake laughed and said I bet…but I agree with your mom I could definitely fall in love with a woman who can cook as well as you.” She blushes as she starts to clear away the mess and the dishes. Drake comes around the kitchen Island and says “no no, no you cooked the least I can do is the dishes.” Don’t be silly she says you’re my guest…go sit.” He said how about I wash and you dry then deal?” Deal she concedes, so what about you Drake what were you like growing up did you go to college or anything?” Not much to tell really my childhood was kind of boring I lost my dad when I was about 15 so then it was just me, my sister and my mom. “She still alive…your mom?” Yeah she’s back home, and I went to college here in New York for a while actually but then something’s went bad for my best friend so I went home to be there for him and I’ve been there ever since.” “This friend is he the one that’s getting married she asked through a loud yawn...Man I’m sorry I guess filling up on breakfast the night is catching up to me.” Drake saying “Yeah and the dishes are done and thanks for that great spread by the way I haven’t had a home cooked meal in a long time; why don’t you go catch a nap and I’ll see you before I head out in the morning.”
She agrees and encourages him to do the same, they separate going into their prospective rooms. Cindy Jo’s alarm goes off loudly at 7am. She gets up and changes into her spandex tight fitting running pants, and spandex halter-top. She enters the living room to see Drake already dressed and waiting for her. She asked did he get any sleep and he states a little, and I can’t thank you enough for everything I had a great time with you last night.” Me too she genuinely says. Well he says getting up from the couch I guess I’m going to head on out to the airport and you look like you’re getting ready to go for a run so I’ll get out of your hair.” You’re not in my hair and I had a lovely time as well I really enjoyed your company Drake.” Drake snorted you’d be in the minority these days; hey Beckett I’m going to be back in New York with my friends in about a month….he drags on looking down to the floor do you think it would be ok if we saw each other again when I do?” (Drake holds his breath as he waits for her to answer). I’d love that she said with a smile on her face meeting her eyes showing her dimples. He stands up straight smiling saying great it’s a date then. She walks him out her apartment and then out the building feeling nervous not knowing how to say goodbye even though they had kissed last night. She thought it was just because of the moment and they were drinking. Well she says I guess this is good bye and decides to open her arms to hug him he leans down and hugs her resting his chin on the top of her head kisses her hair, and when they break the hug he leans in and kisses her lips gently and waits to see if she will reciprocate the kiss. She does by parting her lips and allowing him to fully kiss her entangling their tongues as she wrapped her arms around his neck playing with the hair on the nap of his neck pulling him in closer and kissing him deeper after a minute they break for a breath and he leans in giving her a few quick pecks on the lips saying I have to go in between kisses. “He waves as he gets in the cab calling out I’ll see you in a month Beckett.” She waves goodbye and starts her morning run. While on the plane waiting to take off Drake gets a call from his friend Liam…
Liam-Did you make it to the airport and board the plane in time?
Drake- Yeah I did I’m waiting to take off now I’ll be back by dinner tonight.
Liam-That’s great can’t wait to see you and hear all about where you’ll be taking me when we return in a month.
Drake=I met an amazing woman I spent all night with her I can’t wait to tell you all about her.
