Chapter Eleven
It was with a sense of wry amusement that Jack couldn't help but recognise the irony of the situation. If he believed in some higher power, he might have even wondered if they were having a laugh at his expense. And if Owen had been with him, he could well imagine that his best friend would have been smirking from ear to ear, finding the entire situation hilarious.
Toshiko Sato, every bit as beautiful and elegant as Jack remembered from the last time they'd seen each other, returned to the private fitting suite and discreetly handed back his credit card. He smiled warmly at his friend. "Thanks again for doing this, Toshiko. I owe you."
"Think nothing of it, Jack. Besides, it's lovely to see you again." Toshiko's dark eyes twinkled as she sat down beside him. "Although, I have to say, I never pictured you in the role of wedding fairy."
Jack laughed. "Neither did I. And trust me, it's not something I intend to do on a regular basis. But Rhiannon's brother is a friend and I wanted to help. I knew if anyone could save the day, it would be you."
Rhiannon came back out from the changing room, wearing the third of the five dresses which Toshiko had picked out for her. She had already tried on all five, but the third dress was clearly her favourite, and Jack agreed wholeheartedly. Although wedding dresses weren't his forte, he thought that the off-the-shoulder ivory gown with its simple lines and soft pleats was both flattering and classically understated. Toshiko stood up and moved to join Rhiannon by the full-length mirrors. She did the requisite fussing over the dress, making some minor adjustments before stepping back to cast an appraising eye over the result.
Rhiannon frowned at her reflection as she turned from side to side. "What do you think, Jack?"
Jack stepped over to join them, standing behind Rhiannon and smiling at her in the mirror. "I think it's perfect. You look like a princess. Johnny's going to think he's the luckiest man on the planet."
Tucking an errant lock of her sleek, shoulder-length dark hair behind her ear, Toshiko nodded in agreement. "It's a beautiful dress and very becoming. I think it really suits you."
Rhiannon bit down on her lower lip, turning to one side and back again. A hint of pink tinged her pale cheeks. "You're sure it's in my budget? It looks expensive. Well, more expensive than the others."
"It's at the top of your budget." Toshiko gave Rhiannon a reassuring smile, her expression giving nothing away. "Jack's a good friend so I've reduced the price as much as I can. But we can try some others if you're not sure. I want you to have a dress you're completely happy with."
Rhiannon continued to study her reflection for several moments. Her expression cleared, and she shook her head. "No. Thanks, Toshiko, but this is the one." Breathing out a sigh, she smiled happily. "Oh, my god, I'm so relieved."
Jack flashed Toshiko a grateful smile for going along with the minor deception. Even with the generous discount, the dress was almost three-hundred pounds over Rhiannon's budget, but that little secret would stay between him and Toshiko. He wanted Rhiannon to have a dress she was happy with, and the money was of no consequence to him. Thanks to his successful modelling career, good financial advice and some lucrative investments over the years, money wasn't something that he needed to worry too much about. Regardless, it was a small price to pay to solve this little problem and take some pressure off Ianto. He knew how much Ianto wanted Rhiannon's wedding to be perfect.
He retrieved his phone from the pocket of his jacket. "Let me take a photo so I can send it to Ianto."
Rhiannon agreed, so he snapped off a photo and immediately sent it on. As the two women discussed some minor alternations, Jack waited for a response. A couple of minutes later his phone pinged with a new text message.
Tell Rhiannon she looks beautiful.
A second ping followed a moment later.
Thanks, Jack.
Jack smiled, feeling a little ridiculous that those two simple words could cause a rush of warmth to bloom in his chest. His fingers danced across the tiny on-screen keyboard with well-practised ease.
I think I deserve a reward, don't you?
He imagined Ianto's adorable suspicious frown as he read the message.
What sort of reward?
Biting back a laugh, Jack typed his response.
You know what I want, Ianto.
He could still remember every detail of the appalled expression on Ianto's face when he'd first made the suggestion. And even now, several days later, he couldn't help smiling at the memory. It had been a perfectly genuine suggestion, but given the vehemence of Ianto's refusal, Jack had turned it into something of a running joke since, complete with several emails containing tantalising imagery.
His phone pinged again.
Fine, I'll do it.
Imagining a cute huff of annoyance accompanied by an exaggerated eye roll, Jack chuckled and, still smiling, he relayed Ianto's message to Rhiannon.
Toshiko assured them that the dress would be ready by early the following week. Once everything was settled, they took their leave, Jack giving Toshiko a kiss on the cheek as he thanked her again and promised to catch up properly the next time he was in London for more than a fleeting visit.
Harrods wasn't far from Toshiko's boutique, and Jack decided to treat them to lunch before they made the train journey back to Cardiff. As they enjoyed their meal in the luxurious surroundings, Rhiannon was a captive audience to Jack's stories about his life in London and modelling career. They'd managed to exhaust wedding-related conversation between when he'd met Rhiannon at Cardiff Central station and their arrival in London, much to his relief.
"You and Ianto seem to be spending quite a bit of time together." They were drinking their cappuccinos after they'd finished their meal, and Rhiannon was looking at him with a puzzled expression, as if she couldn't quite figure out his and Ianto's budding friendship.
Jack produced his most disarming smile. "I like your brother. We hang out and watch movies, we talk a bit, and I shovel food into him." He laughed, trying his best to maintain an air of nonchalance. "You know, guy stuff. We're going to the impressionist exhibition on Friday. I'm looking forward to it. It sounds like fun."
"He mentioned that. You know, sometimes I can hardly believe we're related." Rhiannon's smile was wry and carried a hint of self-deprecation. "Don't get me wrong, I love my brother, and I couldn't be more proud of him, but we don't really have anything in common. We're like chalk and cheese." Her smile faded. "I'm glad he's got someone he can share his interests with. I just wish he'd get out more. Meet people. Find himself a nice girlfriend."
Jack felt his chest tighten and hoped that his features didn't betray him. "I take it he doesn't date much? He mentioned an ex-girlfriend. Lisa? It sounded like it was serious."
The look on Rhiannon's face at the mention of Lisa's name spoke volumes. Clearly, Rhiannon wasn't a fan of Ianto's mysterious ex.
She sighed and sipped her coffee. "It was, at least for Ianto. He took the breakup really hard. He ran off to Paris, and we barely heard from him for a year. Then he came back and threw himself into starting up the bakery. There hasn't been anyone since."
Jack nodded and tried to look encouraging. "Maybe he's feeling a little gun-shy. It's understandable that he doesn't want to get hurt again."
"Probably, yeah." Rhiannon gave a sad shake of her head. "It's hard to know what goes through that head of his. He's always been like that... quiet... distant... difficult to reach... living in his own world. Especially after we lost our mum. He was never the same after that, but he was better when he was with Lisa. She helped to bring him out of his shell, and he really loved her. But she wasn't right for him. He deserves someone who appreciates him. I'm not sure if Lisa ever did. I think she saw him as someone she could mould into what she wanted. Turned out she was wrong." There was pride in her voice with that last statement, but then she sighed again. "I know it sounds horrible, but sometimes I think Ianto doesn't know how to be happy."
Jack found himself uncharacteristically lost for words. A part of him wanted to tell Rhiannon that, if given a chance, he'd do everything in his power to make her brother happy and prove to him how special and amazing he really was. Instead, all he could do was shrug. "Happiness can be a tricky thing."
Rhiannon nodded, but Jack struggled not to cringe at how feeble those words must have sounded. He reached across the table and patted Rhiannon's hand. "I think he's doing the best he can. The bakery's important to him. That's what matters to him at the moment." Searching for something more reassuring, he added, "I'm sure he'll find someone new when he's ready."
"I hope so. I just don't like to think of him being lonely." Rhiannon smiled again. "I'm glad the two of you are friends. It's good that Ianto has someone to spend time with other than me and Rhys. You don't have anyone either, do you?"
Jack shook his head. "No. Not at the moment." In an attempt to bring some levity back to the conversation, he gave her a cheeky wink. "Hard to believe, isn't it? I mean, look at me. Look at Ianto. Two devilishly handsome, eligible bachelors and no one will have us."
Rhiannon rolled her eyes in a very Ianto-like manner, but she was smiling with obvious amusement. "It's almost a pity that Ianto isn't gay or bisexual. You'd be good for him. The two of you would make a gorgeous couple."
Jack had to try hard not to choke on his mouthful of coffee. After putting down his cup and successfully managing to swallow, he laughed to cover his discomfort. "You know what? I think we would too."
###
"So, what's the latest on the seduction of baker boy? Managed to turn him gay yet?"
Having just finished a three episode 'The Walking Dead' zombie-athon, Jack handed Owen one of the pair of beers he'd retrieved from the refrigerator and collapsed back down onto the sofa beside him.
He gave Owen a disapproving glare before raising the bottle to his lips and taking a generous swig. "His name's Ianto, Owen. But to answer your question, no, nothing's happened yet. I'm not going to pressure him. We're still just friends." With a rueful laugh, he scrubbed a hand roughly over his face. "I've got to say, though, I'm starting to feel the strain. I'm not cut out for living like a monk."
Owen's eyebrows shot up in almost comical fashion. "Wait, you're not telling me..." He shook his head in obvious disbelief. "No way. Not a chance. You're pulling my leg."
"No, I'm serious. I haven't been with anyone since John." Jack frowned, not knowing how to explain his unprecedented bout of celibacy, even to his best friend.
He'd thought about going out on the pull to take the edge off, but the idea of sex with a stranger, no matter how physically appealing the person might be, held no appeal. Somehow he knew that it would only end in frustration and dissatisfaction. Or worse, that he'd end up cruising the various bars and clubs throughout the city, pathetically searching for someone who could almost pass as an imitation of Ianto. He had to hand it to the Welshman. Ianto had well and truly done a number on him, all without even trying. If there was such a thing as karma, Jack's debaucherous past had come back to bite him in the arse, and not in a fun way either.
Jack loved sex in all its myriad shapes and forms, and he was already missing the physical and emotional benefits of regular sexual activity. Fantasies and the aid of a few well-loved toys were all fine and good, but it wasn't a substitute for a warm and eager body. He was, after all, a virile man in his prime, with a healthy – admittedly, some might say excessive – sexual appetite. Since achieving adulthood, it had simply been an intrinsic part of his life. He wanted to be having all the mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex that he could handle. The problem was, he wanted to be having all that fantastic sex with Ianto. He knew how ridiculous it was to fixate all of his sexual desires on one person, especially when he had no idea what sex with Ianto would actually be like. He'd built it up in his mind as a profound and life-altering experience, but he wasn't foolish enough not to consider that their physical chemistry, assuming he ever got to find out, might be mediocre at best.
None of which changed the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about Ianto and what they could be like together. He swallowed another mouthful of beer. "I want him... I only want him."
Owen continued to look incredulous. "Bloody hell. Never thought I'd see the day when you turned into a one-person bloke. Especially when the person in question isn't even putting out." But the humour vanished from his face and was replaced with a rare look of compassionate concern. "He's not just a passing fancy, is he? You're really serious about him."
Exhaling a deep breath, Jack nodded. He spent a few moments picking distractedly at the label on his beer bottle. "I think... no, I know..." He swallowed hard. "I'm falling in love with him, Owen. Head over heels in love." He looked up at his friend, shocked that he'd actually said the words aloud. "How is that even possible?"
Owen gave a wry chuckle and patted his knee. "Happens to the best of us, Jack. Or the worst of us, depending on how you look at it. I've been there, mate. It's bloody gut-wrenching."
"Yeah." Jack slumped back into the sofa, resting his empty hand behind his head as he continued to drink with the other. Closing his eyes, he tried to stop himself from visualising Ianto's beautiful, gently smiling face. The intensity of his attraction to the Welshman hadn't faded in the slightest, which in itself was something of a surprise.
"What's the plan, then?"
Opening his eyes again, Jack looked at his friend and shrugged. "Stay the course. Try to be a good friend, keep spending time together." He managed a half-hearted chuckle. "Hope that my irresistible charm eventually works its magic, sweeps him off his feet and makes him fall madly in love with me too."
Owen rolled his eyes. "Well, anything's possible. And if anyone can charm the pants off him – literally and figuratively – you'd be the bloke to do it." He grinned, but the subsequent gentleness in his voice was genuine and imbued with their bond of brotherly affection. "But sooner or later you're going to have to make a move and see what happens."
"Yeah, I know." Jack cringed, wanting to slap himself for being so weak and indecisive. He'd never been this unsure of himself before, but then he'd never been infatuated with anyone like this before either. In the past, he'd never felt like he had anything to lose – if someone he liked wasn't interested, he'd just move on to someone else. The simple truth was that he'd never felt like this about anyone before. "I want more. A whole lot more. But I like what we already have. I don't want to screw that up by being too impulsive."
Abstinence from sex aside, he was enjoying his friendship with Ianto. And after the conversation with Rhiannon the day before, he wondered if Ianto might actually need him... if Ianto needed someone solid and dependable in his life... someone he didn't have to share with anyone else. Ianto might not want him in the way that he wanted Ianto, but perhaps in some strange way they needed each other. Strange as it seemed, he liked the idea of Ianto needing him, of being someone who Ianto could count on. He still wanted to be married, and he still had his sights set on Ianto as his prospective husband-to-be, but he wasn't only thinking about what he would get out of the arrangement. He was also thinking about what he had to offer in return.
The one thing he was certain of was that he was happier and less lonely since he'd met Ianto. It was at least possible that Ianto felt the same way about him. He wasn't ready to risk losing any of that quite yet.