Imaginary Boyfriend: Gentleman Jack (complete)

When you were little, you had an imaginary friend. Nothing unusual, lots of kids had imaginary friends. You came up with yours after seeing an image on a box of cigars at your grandfather’s.

You were bored, and it was raining out. Your grandfather was asleep on the sofa, and you had run out of tapes to watch. So you decided to go on a treasure hunt. Treasure hunts were the norm for you when you stayed with your grandparents. They had every nook and cranny of their home filled with everything you could imagine, and the cigar box was tucked onto a bookshelf with a bunch of others.

This one was special though, because the label was so much prettier than all the others.  On the box was the silhouette of a man wearing a very dapper suit and holding a monocle in front of his eye. The monocle was holographic, as was the red bow tie he wore, and the shine of the letters. You thought he was so handsome, even though he was only a dark silhouette.

He became your best friend that very day, helping you beat back the doldrums on such a rainy afternoon. You named him Gentleman Jack, and he was handsome, debonair, and loved you. He was tall and all black like a shadow, save for his monocle, the white of his undershirt, and shiny red bow tie. He didn’t speak, but you learned a system to communicate. He would write or draw in a notepad you gave him, but you understood his body language very easily.

As with most imaginary friends, you grew up and didn’t need him any more. Jack himself decided it was best that he find another child he could take care of on boring rainy days. He went off to Lady Tilsbury’s House of Fanciful Companions, a home for imaginary friends without a friend.

You remember the day you dropped him off. Much like the day you imagined him into being, it was gray and raining. You stood in front of the house, and the door opened as a woman stepped out. You looked at Jack, and he looked at you. Before you could say anything he tapped the tip of your nose and acted like he had captured it, jutting his thumb between his front two fingers.

You smiled sadly and nodded. “You can keep it, Jack. I think you’ll be needing it.”

He tucked the pretend thumb into his pocket and patted it.

“Give it to the next friend you get. I know you’ll find someone very soon.” You gave him one last hug, then watched as he went up the stairs. “Goodbye, Jack.” You waved as he waved in return, patting the stolen nose in his pocket.

It was heartbreaking to have to say goodbye, but his purpose was served, and you no longer had the time for him anymore. You grew up, and your mother remarried and had your baby sister, Jesse. You loved your little sister, and aside from Jack she was the first one you told about being nonbinary. Even though she was young, all she knew was that she loved you. Even though there was a big age gap between you, you couldn’t imagine a day without her.

“You had an imaginary friend, right?” she asks one day.

“I did. He was my best friend until you showed up.” You smile down at her. “Why do you ask?”

“I want one,” she shrugs. “But I’m not creative like you. I can’t seem to make one up.”

“Have you asked Mama if she’ll take you down to Lady Tilsbury’s?”

She pouts, scrunching up her nose. “I was hoping that you could ask her for me.”

You smirk. “What sort of magical power do you think I have?”

“You’re older.”

You chuckle and shake your head. “If you want an imaginary friend, you need to ask Mama.”

Jesse tilts her head to the side. “Did you ever go there?”

You think back to the day you dropped Gentleman Jack off. Your smile fades and you nod. “Just once, but it was to drop my friend off.”

“Oh, that’s sad.”

You chuckle again and reach down to mess with her hair. “Everyone grows out of their imaginary friend some day, but that’s why Lady Tilsbury’s House of Fanciful Companions exists.”

“Would you ever want to see your imaginary friend again?”

You nod slowly, thinking how nice it would be to see Jack as an adult. “I would. Sometimes, I wish I had never given him up at all.”

“That’s still sad.”

You give her a playful shove as you both giggle.

One evening, you come home late from work. You’re exhausted. The holiday rush is never fun, and you have threatened to quit your job every year before it begins. Once again, you’ve failed to set yourself free in time. You sigh heavily as you walk in the door. “I’m home!” you call out, aiming yourself towards the kitchen. “Anyone here?” You head for the fridge, finding the leftovers from dinner. You set them on the table and as you search for a fork, someone hands you one.

“Thank you very much.” You plop down at the table. “You have no idea how crazy the store is. Even as I was leaving, there were coworkers still clinging to shattered life rafts.”

Someone hands you a napkin.

“Ah, thanks.” You peel back the Saran Wrap on the food. “I need to quit, I really do.” You take a bite of cold mac and cheese. “If I have to help another old man button a shirt, I’m gonna just go blind. Not to mention those stupid bathrooms. I’m about ready to rip my nose off.”

A pitch-black hand comes between you and the leftovers. The thumb is planted in between the two front fingers, like a trapped nose. The hand bops your nose, then slides up over your forehead and hair.

You nearly leap out of your chair to hug him. “I can’t believe it’s you!” You throw your arms around Gentleman Jack and hug him tight. “Where did you come from?”

Jack points back to your sister’s bedroom.

You could just about cry. “You're Jesse’s imaginary friend?”

Jack nods and flips the collar of his blazer.

“That’s wonderful!” you giggle excitedly. You’re unsure what to say or do, you’re just so overjoyed to see him. Not much has changed, except for one thing, he seems more attractive than you remember. Sure, he’s basically a silhouette, but you don’t remember him seeming so sexy when you were a kid. Had you really imagined him this way?

“Is Jesse asleep right now?” you ask.

Gentleman Jack mimes a pillow under his head and tilts it to the side. Then he holds his hands out like a book and face plants into it.

“Studying again?” you sigh. “Maybe I should go tuck her in.”

Jack shakes his head and pats his hands against his chest.

“Just like me,” you chuckle. “Only I never fell asleep studying. I was always watching cartoons.”

Jack pats the top of your head and taps his temple, to signal he has a question. He then begins signing with his hands.

“You learned sign language!”you exclaim happily.

Jack nods and signs again.

You frown. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

Jack flips his hands into the air, then takes a pad from his pocket and writes with a small red pencil. “I’m teaching Jesse. I can teach you too.”

“That’d be great! I’ve always wanted to learn.” You find you can’t stop smiling. “It’s just so good to see you Jack. It’ll be fun having you around again.”

Jack gives a thumbs-up.

“Only one?”

He raises the second thumb.

There are days when Jesse has school, but you’re off work, that you get to spend time with Jack again. He teaches you sign language, which he learned while staying at Lady Tilsbury’s as a better way to communicate. You’re able to bond after being apart for so long. You’re still surprised by how sensual you find Jack now. You hadn’t meant that as a kid, but now you realize certain aspects you had thought of as cool or dapper as a kid, translated into something entirely different now as a grown adult.

One evening, while Jesse is asleep, you and Jack are doing dishes in the kitchen. You enjoy the peace of the evening, and the warm hum of the radio playing old timey music. “Were there ever any kids after me?” you ask out of curiosity. You’ve been aching to ask this question since you saw Jack again, but you felt a bit silly about asking.

Jack nods and points to Jesse’s bedroom door.

“Just Jesse?” Your heart sinks into your stomach. “All this time, and Jesse was the only one?”

Jack shrugs and continues to scrub.

“You aren’t mad at me, are you?”

Jack stops and stares at you hard.

You frown up at him. “It’s not silly to me! It’s a very serious question. Were you mad at me all this time?”

Jack grabs your nose and gently pulls it. He shakes his head, and a low hum comes from his chest. Tilting his head to the side, he lets go of your nose.

“Knowing you were never adopted until Jesse, though... that makes me feel so guilty.”

Jack shakes his head and pats the top of your head. He dries his hands and points to the radio, then holds his hand to you.

You place your hand into his. “You want to dance?”

Jack nods.

“I haven’t since you left.” You let him sweep you up, putting his hand around your waist and guiding you to the middle of the kitchen. He sways you back and forth, leading you to the rhythm of the music. Your heart hammers in your throat, both nervous and excited. You giggle as he spins you, falling back into his arms so your face presses against his chest. He holds you there, long, elegant fingers touching the back of your neck and running through your short hair.

You step back nervously, looking up at him as he tilts his head to the side. “We should finish the dishes.”

Jack places his hand on your shoulder and squeezes gently. Placing your hand over his, you feel a rush of warmth through you. “You’re Jesse’s imaginary friend now.”

Jack takes your hand again, pulling you back into a dance. He holds you close even as the song changes. You move with him, letting him lead the entire time. His touch feels velvety, and his embrace is warm. You smile to yourself, indulging in this even if it’s just for the night.

Once the music stops, Gentleman Jack releases you. You can tell he’s smiling, even if all you see is black. “That was fun,” you agree. “Thank you.”

Jack leans in, and you close the gap. You feel his soft lips and lose your breath, and his long pink tongue slithers into your parted mouth. You moan and press closer, wrapping your arms around his neck while his fingers dig into your back. “Oh, Jack,” you moan as his lips move down your neck.

You quickly push him back, and both of you stand crackling with tension. Jack smooths down his shirt. You tug your shirt back down from where he had been pulling at it. “Well! Sleep tight!” Your voice cracks as you turn and walk away, making a beeline for your room.

You shut the door and sit on the edge of your bed, holding your head between your hands. “What the fuck was that?” you ask aloud. It’s a question you know the answer to, but aren’t ready to confront now.

Instead you take a shower, trying to wash away the overthinking. But you can’t wash away how good that felt - the softness of his lips, the slip of his tongue, the roughness of his hands. You pinch your cheek hard. “Snap out of it, you idiot!” You turn the cold water higher and squeal as it hisses against your skin. “I deserve this!” You spread your arms open wide. “I deserve this!”

Leaving the shower, you don’t feel any better than when you went in. You’re just cold now. You go into your room as you dry your hair, catching sight of yourself in the mirror. You’ve always had a small build, and you never felt particularly attractive. You’re just lucky your figure suits your nonbinary identity. You run your hand down your chest, wondering how Gentleman Jack’s velvety touch would feel. His long elegant fingers caressing your skin, digging into the flesh, then finding themselves between your thighs.

You pull your hand off your body, glaring at your reflection. “Do I need to spray you with the hose?” You scoff and wrap your towel around you. “This is crazy! You either need to get laid or something is wrong with you. He’s your friend. Your imaginary friend! Whoever heard of such a thing?”

You bite down on your lip. “That kiss, though. It’s like he wanted it, too.” You flop back onto the bed, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m screwed, aren’t I?”

In the morning, you run late for work because you fell asleep with your hair wet, and it looks like an absolute nightmare. You have to wet it again to tame it, and by that time, you have to to race from home with a soggy head. You come home later in the day, finding your sister in the living room with her textbook open. “Hey, Jesse.” You kick off your shoes. “How is the studying going?”

“Great!” she says excitedly. “I made the mathletes team today, and we’re having our first  competition next Saturday!”

“Oh, that’s great!” You sit down next to her and give her a hug. “Congrats, I’m very proud of you.”

You kiss her temple. “Someone in this family needed to be smart.”

“Thanks!” She closes her book. “There’s just one thing - the competition is out of town, and I can’t take Gentleman Jack with me. Do you think you could keep him company next Saturday?”

“What? Did Mom and Dad say that?” you ask.

Jesse shakes her head. “There wouldn’t be enough room in the car, and Jack said he doesn’t like traveling.”

Well, that was true. You remember the fight he put up when you took him on that beach trip with your aunt. He stayed on the floor of the car the entire time you drove to the coast. “I don’t mind watching him. It might be nice to spend some alone time. How are you liking Jack, though? Is he all you wanted with an imaginary friend?”

Jesse nods. “I can see why you liked him so much. Most of my friend’s imaginary friends are big and loud. But Jack is quiet, and he listens. He helps me study and he’s a good teacher. What were you thinking when you created Jack?”

You sigh and lean back against the sofa. “I just remember being bored. Grandpa was asleep on the couch, I had finished watching all the tapes I had with me, so I just wanted someone to not be bored with.”

“Is that all?” Jesse asks.

You smile to yourself. “Mom worked a lot, so I was alone in the house sometimes. Even with all the doors locked, and the phone right beside me, I still got scared. When I first saw the image that would become Gentleman Jack, it made the shadows seem less scary.”

“Do you still get scared when you’re alone?” Jesse scoots closer.

“Sometimes.”

Jesse breaks into a big smile. “Then you can borrow Jack whenever you want! I don’t mind. There’s lots of times when I’m studying or have school stuff to do. Just because you’re grown up doesn’t mean you don’t need a friend like him sometimes.”

You smile in return and rub her back. “You know, maybe you’re too smart.”

That evening, as you’re getting some water from the kitchen, Jack comes out of Jesse’s room and hands you his notepad. “What’s up?” You look over his letter, then glance back up at him. “Oh yes, I’m well aware that Jesse wants you to babysit me this weekend. Don’t worry, I’ll behave myself.”

Jack shakes his head.

You squint at him. “What does that mean?”

He taps his fingers over his heart, then opens his mouth. You see his pure white teeth, and then his long pink tongue licking over them.

You furrow your brow. “What does THAT mean?”

Jack grunts and slouches his shoulders. He starts signing, but you only pick up a few words from what you’ve learned. It takes a moment, but you piece together what he’s trying to say. “You want to go on a date?”

Jack claps his hands together and nods his head.

Your heart leaps back into your throat again. “Well, that’s...” You trail off as you look up into his face. “Okay.”

Jack leaps on you and pulls you into his arms, hugging you tight. He taps your nose, then crosses his hands in the air.

“You don’t want me to do anything?”

Jack jabs his thumb into his chest and nods.

“You sure? Is there anything I should be prepared for this weekend?”

Jack grins and licks the corner of his mouth. You arch a brow at him. “You’re so confident about that?”

Rubbing his hands together, Jack nods again then makes the ‘okay’ sign with his fingers.

“It’s not weird, is it?” you ask. “The two of us...” You trail off again as your face begins to sizzle from the heat of embarrassment.

Jack shakes his head and dips down to kiss your forehead. He takes your pinky finger and taps to his own, pulling them apart, there’s suddenly a red thread there.

You smile up at him. “You sure?”

Jack nods and steals your nose.