Notes: This is a shorter update but I'm going to try and upload another chapter tonight if I can get it finished.
September 2006
When Ianto arrived home he found that Lisa wasn't there. He couldn't help but feel relieved that he didn't have to face her immediately; his head was full of Jack Harkness.
He went into the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine; he remembered the way that Jack's eyes had shone when he smiled; he added the beans and waited for the coffee to brew; the remembered the way his heart beat had increased when Jack's hand had accidentally brushed against his when they were leaving the pub; he sat down on the settee with his cup of coffee and tried to deny the fact that he was still behaving like a sixteen year old school girl. He decided he was screwed.
Ianto tried not to think about the fact that he was going to be seeing Jack the next day. They were just friends, he told himself. It wasn't a date. He was a married man after all so of course it wasn't a date.
'You're not even gay,' Ianto said out loud but his subconscious once again decided to argue the point by reminding him that he'd really wanted to know what it was like to kiss Jack the other night on the balcony.
When his brain started thinking about what outfit he should wear for his date-not date with Jack it was all Ianto could do not to punch himself in the face. Yes, he decided. He was definitely screwed.
---
Unfortunately Jack didn't have Ianto's luck because John was in when Jack arrived home. He was sprawled across the leather sofa with a glass of whiskey in his hand. Jack frowned at him.
'I thought you were working today?' he asked.
'I thought you were too,' John replied. 'I went to your office. Your secretary told me you hadn't been in.'
'Toshiko's head of research and development,' Jack replied without looking up as he picked up the post from the sideboard and began to sort through it. 'She's not a secretary.'
'I rang you twice,' John continued. 'You didn't answer.'
'I was in a meeting.'
'Sure you were,' John replied, 'a meeting with Eye Candy from rugby club?'
'Maybe,' Jack replied.
'Have you fucked him yet?'
'No.'
'Are you going to?'
Jack looked down at the floor but didn't answer.
'Do we have to keep playing these games Jack?'
'It's funny,' Jack replied with a smile, 'you never seem to want to stop when you have your eye on somebody.'
'That's different,' John said after a pause.
'How?'
'Because you never have anything to worry about.'
Jack's expression softened as he looked at John – his partner of fifteen years.
'John...' he sighed.
'Do I have anything to worry about Jack?'
Jack felt his stomach tighten, he hated lying to John. They had always told each other the truth even when the truth lead to violent arguments; even when the truth meant confessing to having sex with other people.
'No John,' Jack said softly. 'You don't have anything to worry about.'
John smiled and Jack knew that even though he wasn't entirely convinced he would play along. He wouldn't rock the boat.
'Want to go have sex?' John asked.
Jack grinned. 'Do you even have to ask?'
'Come on,' John replied standing up and making his way towards the bedroom. 'I'll even let you call me Eye Candy.'
---
Lisa checked her appearance in the mirror before picking up her shopping bags and leaving the apartment quietly. She walked around the block to the place where her car was parked. It was looking a bit tatty, she decided as she opened the boot. She'd have to ask Ianto to buy her a new one. It wasn't like they couldn't afford it now.
She pulled out her mobile phone and sent him a text telling him that she'd be home soon. Almost immediately her phone began to ring, seeing the name on the caller id her face lit up with a smile.
'I thought you were asleep?' she said by way of greeting.
'I was – I woke up and you'd gone.'
'Sorry I have to get home, I didn't want to wake you.'
'Yeah, yeah. You can't wait to go back to him can you?' there was laughter in the voice.
'You know that's not true, but he is my husband.'
'Like I could forget that?'
'It's the way things are.'
'More's the pity. Will I see you tomorrow?'
'I'm not sure. I don't want Ianto to get suspicious.'
'He's not going to get suspicious Lisa. He worships the ground you walk on.'
'I know,' Lisa replied trying to keep the guilt out of her voice.
'Just try to get away ok? For me?'
'Ok. I promise I'll try.'
'Alright then – I'd best let you get back to hubby.'
'Yeah,' Lisa replied.
'I love you Lisa.'
'I love you too.'