I Treasure Your Heart

by C. M. King

  “Does anyone want any more?”

  “NO,” we all replied way too quickly.

  Sam gave us a look and we all smiled. “We wouldn’t want to be too full for the other courses,” Kara offered. Even she looked queasy.

  “What is the second course?” Mike asked, almost looking like he was going to puke right then and there.

  “Steak.”

  “Oh thank god—”

  Mike suddenly looked pained and Elijah looked at him confused, Kara must have kicked him under the table.

  “I meant oh thank god, the soup was so lovely and rich that I wanted a course that wasn’t too fancy.”

  “Well I did my own sweet potato with a special sauce to go with the steak. Think you boys will love it, I know you love your red meat.”

  “Yep,” was all Mike could get out.

  “So Joel, what was the score today?” Elijah asked, as both Mike and he looked confused.

  “Errmm well it was …”

  “I’m kidding, I couldn’t give a toss. Now I need to go see my sweet potatoes, they should be done. You guys will just have to entertain yourselves.”

  “Oh we’re fine, you go and get that second course ready. I can’t wait to taste your special sauce.” Sam winked and Elijah chuckled, stacking up the bowls before walking back through.

  Mike’s eyes met with Sam’s. “I don’t care what Arsenal tickets you get me. They could be in the box area, I will never eat soup like that again. God, it’s going to take me all week to get rid of that rancid taste. He chugged down some more beer in the hope that it would mask the lingering after taste that was plaguing us all.

  “I know, I know and thank you all, though I thought you weren’t going to make it at one point, at least there was bread to try to dilute the taste.”

  “Now that was good, I enjoyed that part,” Mike replied, taking another long draw of his beer.

  “Yeah, you almost ate half the loaf,” Kara added sarcastically.

  “I ate the soup, didn’t I, so please stop complaining.”

  “I feel sick,” I muttered turning to Joel. I was seconds away from my starter making a reappearance.

  “I could have been at home with a beef chow mein,” Joel muttered bitterly.

  Mike’s face lit up in agreement. “Oh god, I could just eat that right now? Do you think he’d miss us if we happened to bow out early?”

  “Yes, he would. Keep those bottoms parked you’re not going anywhere, capisce?” Sam snapped, giving them a look of warning.

  “Jesus, Sam, it’s not Goodfellas. I’ll be waking up to a horse’s head next.” We all laughed hard at Mike.

  “You’re quiet, Joel,” I remarked, but his frown soon changed to a smile when his eyes locked on mine.

  “Oh I’m just sitting here thinking of ways to torture you when we get home.”

  “What kind of torture?” I asked intrigued. I could feel my body stirring at just the thought.

  “It’s a surprise, but you have to wait till later. We have this torture to get through before I can unleash my own.”

  “Maybe just a hint?” I pleaded, giving him a look.

  “Not gonna work, Iz, you get nothing till we get home.”

  “Are you sure about that?” I ran my fingers up his thigh to be met with an ever-increasing bulge.

  “Always ready I see.” I remarked.

  “You know me, hard at the drop of the hat when you’re in the same room.”

  “Ewww, Joel, that’s my sister.”

  My eyes flashed to Mike’s. “Oh purlease, what about your blow job remark?”

  Kara laughed and planted a long hard kiss on Mike’s mouth. “These lips of mine are amazing even if I do say so myself.” She winked.

  Wow, too much information.

  I think the soup was definitely about to make a reappearance.

  “Anyone want any more wine or beer.”

  “Yes, beer,” both Mike and Joel piped up.

  “Seriously, guys, do not get wasted, loose lips and all that,” Sam warned handing over them over.

  “I need to be pissed so I don’t taste the food anymore,” Joel said, chuckling.

  “Shhh, he might hear that,” I hissed.

  “What warbling as loud as he is with Lady Gaga on in the background, I highly doubt it.”

  “I might need to fish out my old CD, he’s really getting me back into her. I love a bit of bad romance,” Kara replied, singing along.

  Mike scoffed. “Trust me when I say that CD will last two seconds before it’s tossed out the window.”

  “I’d take the Foos over Lady Gaga any day,” I remarked, sipping on my wine.

  Joel smiled. “See, that’s why we work so well, we have the same amazing taste.”

  “Unlike Elijah,” Mike added, chuckling.

  “Was that my name I heard being mentioned?” Elijah remarked, breezing through the door. “Now are my ears burning? I bet you were trying to prize out of Sam the recipe for my amazing soup, but Sam knows better, don’t you, Sam?”

  Sam blushed as we all tried to keep a straight face without totally giving the game away.

  “Oh my lips are sealed, believe me,” Sam quipped.

  Mike snorted then quickly took a swig of beer.

  “Dinner will be served shortly. I just wanted to check how you all like your steak,” Elijah asked.

  “Rare,” Mike replied, smiling.

  Eww, I hated blood, the thought of it there on my plate just made me want to heave.

  “Joel.”

  “Medium rare, thanks.”

  “Izzy, well done?”

  “You know me well.” I smiled.

  “And Kara?”

  “Well done, I can’t abide any pink, it gives me the heebie jeebies. And if you think you are coming near me after this, you have another thing coming.”

  “Oh relax, will you, it’s just meat,” Mike huffed.

  “I can’t wait for you to try my special sauce with it, I thought I had outdone myself with the soup, but this is to die for.” He swept off into the kitchen without a second glance. Once the door was firmly shut, we all broke out into loud laughter.

  “He is seriously going to kill me,” Mike complained.

  “Oh stop being melodramatic.” Kara laughed.

  “I swear if it tastes like feet again, I’m not eating it.”

  “You bloody well will,” Sam added.

  “Yeah, you and who’s army?”

  “Well, a little birdie tells me he has some great seats going at the Arsenal Chelsea match. I did have them put aside for you both, but I must just have to—”

  “Alright, alright we will eat it. But this is the last time. My body is a temple, I should not be putting it through all of this,” Mike huffed.

  “My body is a temple crap, you’d drink beer all day long if you could and eat fry ups,” Kara scoffed.

  “All I know is if I have to go through this torture I’m having those tickets.”

  “You’ll get your tickets just make sure you play along,” Sam warned.

  “Fine,” Mike bit out. They had a staring standoff before Elijah swept through the door with plates in hand.

  “Now who’s ready for the main course?” He grinned in delight.

  Oh god help us all.

  Chapter Six

  “Joel, is this really necessary?” I cringed as he once again pulled out the silk scarf. He seemed to have this constant need to surprise me even though it was something I really hated.

  “Yes, just please put it on, baby,” he insisted, grinning.

  “Ugh, okay, okay, but seriously enough of the surprises just tell me like most normal people do.” It surely couldn’t be that hard.

  “I don’t think we’d ever be classed as normal.” He winked.

  The cheek!

  “Speak for yourself.”

  He grinned. “I promise, Iz, it’s good, you’re going to love it.”

  I grumbled taking the scarf from his hands and tied it around
my eyes.

  “No peeking. Let me check that it’s secure. I don’t want to spoil this.”

  “Joel, I seriously can’t see a thing.” I was totally in the dark.

  “Yep, looks okay. Alright, we are ready.” I heard the engine spring to life and a shiver of excitement ran through me wondering where we were heading.

  “Can you give me a hint?” I asked, feeling hopeful he would elaborate more.

  “That kind of defeats the object of the blindfold.”

  “Spoilsport,” I huffed. You couldn’t blame a girl for trying.

  “Oh boo hoo, we’ll be there soon for you to know.” I could hear the amusement in his voice as I pursed my lips in annoyance.

  “Is it something I will like?” I had to ask, the suspense was killing me.

  “More than like.”

  Oooh.

  “Is it chocolate related?” I always had chocolate on the brain, for me that was the kind of present I’d willingly accept.

  “I think I can do better than chocolate.”

  “Better than chocolate? Now I am intrigued.”

  “Trust me, you will love it.” His reluctance to divulge any information was starting to get to me.

  “Not even the tiniest of a clue,” I begged, he had to give me something.

  “Nope,” he simply replied.

  What a tease.

  “Okay then, turn the music up, if you’re not going to relent them I’m ignoring you.” I was being petty, but I was too annoyed that my persuasive ways had not managed to squeeze even the tiniest hint of an answer out of him.

  His fingers squeezed my thigh. “Trust me, you’ll be more than thanking me later.”

  We drove for what seemed like forever, I was almost at the point of nodding off when I heard the car come to a halt. I sat up bolt upright, itching to take off the mask.

  “Stay where you are, I will come and get you.”

  I didn’t argue, I was now so over the surprise. The cool air hit my legs as Joel pulled the door open and unclicked my seatbelt.

  He helped manoeuvre me out, and I straightened out my body. He pulled me into him and sighed, placing a sweet kiss against my lips.

  “Izzy, kiss me back,” he pleaded.

  “Nope, not until you take this bloody blindfold off.” I was giving him nothing until then.

  “Soon,” he whispered as I pouted.

  “Don’t pout, you know what that does to me.”

  I could hear the chatter of people as we walked along. Joel’s arms around me guiding me while I continued to be encased in complete darkness. When we finally came to a halt, I took in a breath, feeling the silky material fall away.

  “You know how I always keep my promises and I did pinky swear after all.”

  My eyes wrenched open to be greeted with a huge Foo Fighters headlining sign. We were outside Wembley stadium.

  Holy shit!

  “No way,” I squealed, almost stunned in silence.

  “Yep,” was all Joel replied looking like the cat that got the cream.

  “How did you manage to keep this quiet for so long?” Something like this I could not have contained, I would have been bursting at the seams.

  “I have my ways, just seeing your eyes come alight was enough for me to bite my tongue and keep schtum.”

  Oh my.

  I pulled him in closer so our noses were practically touching. “Oh you will be getting thanked tonight for this alright,” I breathed. That was a certainty.

  “Well I know that already.”

  Hmmm cocky but I’d let him have his moment, after all he’d just surprised me with the best present ever.

  “What tickets do we have?”

  “Standing so we can get right up close to Dave Grohl. I know you have a crush.” His eyes scrutinized my face waiting for my usual blush to give me away.

  “I do not,” I protested.

  I so did.

  His fingers stroked along my heated cheek. “I think this cheeky blush of your only confirms it, don’t you?”

  Fuck.

  “I’m just hot, that’s all,” I protested in the vain hope he would just drop it. “If I can’t see can I hop on your shoulders?” I wanted the perfect view of Dave while he performed.

  “Of course, you know one of my favourite places is my head between your legs.” The smirk on his face only grew even wider seeing my face go an even a deeper shade of red.

  “Joel, keep it down,” I hissed. My eyes flashed around to see if anyone had heard. I would die of embarrassment if they had.

  “Oh you can’t deny you love me and my amazing tongue,” he continued. Now I wanted to escape under a rock and hide until the blush subsided.

  “Seriously, people are listening,” I whisper yelled. I could see a small crowd look out way, the smirks that they wore only confirmed it.

  Joel pulled me into him, tenderly placing a kiss against my forehead. “Still my sweet, shy Izzie. Come on, let’s get some beers and then head inside.”

  Now that was a plan.

  The queues were horrendous, but we weaved our way through the crowds eventually working our way towards the stage. We ended up being a few meters back but it was enough to avoid the mosh pit. When those guys got going, well, it could get a little crazy. Joel enveloped me in a hug from behind drawing me tighter into him. I rested my head against his chest unable to believe that within the hour Dave Grohl would appear and perform right in front of me.

  “Did Mike not want to come tonight?” I asked. He was a huge fan too, but to be fair he had seem them a few times.

  “Yeah, he was pissed when I told him I’d got us tickets. I deliberately waited till they were sold out before I did though. I didn’t want him crashing my surprise this night is for you and me. It’s what I’ve waited to give you so long.”

  “Thank you.” I turned to face him and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. He truly was so thoughtful, I couldn’t have asked for a better fiancé.

  “No thanks needed, baby, I told you I’m going to spoil you.” His piercing blue eyes bore deep into mine, and I knew he would keep to his word and who was I to protest?

  “I can’t believe you remembered about our pinky swear.” It had happened so long ago I was certain it had long been forgotten about. Guys never remembered things like that. My dad was always getting into trouble when I was younger for forgetting all the big anniversaries, so I just assumed that Joel would be the same, but to remember this was just amazing.

  “How could I forget something like that?” His fingers lovingly stroked my face, his eyes telling me everything I needed to know.

  “You were so cute to do that, most guys would have laughed in my face.” I was such a geek when I proposed that promise. I slightly cringed at the thought of introducing him to the concept, but he had been so sweet to go along with it.

  “Hey, I’m not most guys, I’m the only guy.”

  I sighed at his words. “I don’t need anyone else.”

  “You got that right.” He grinned.

  I smiled and leaned in for a kiss but was quickly pushed aside.

  “Watch it,” Joel barked, pulling me into him protectively. I always felt safe in his arms.

  The guy in question spun around to be met with Joel’s icy glare. “Sorry, didn’t see you there. Oh hey, Joel.” He looked happy to be bumping into him, but I couldn’t say the same thing about Joel, his smile was now more of a grimace.

  “Hey Rob,” he bit out, looking pissed at his arrival.

  Rob’s eyes soon widened when he caught sight of me. “Izzy, is that you? God, the last time I saw you—”

  “You had your tongue down blondie’s throat,” I finished. It didn’t take him more than a second to move on, but I for one was happy I’d had a lucky break, he literally slept with anything that walked.

  “Oh yeah, she was hot.” He smiled just at the thought.

  “Cheers,” I huffed.

  “Not that I don’t think you’re not hot cause fuck you are.” His ey
es looked me up and down, and I grimaced not liking any form of attention he sent my way.

  “Eyes on me, Rob,” Joel barked, glaring hard. His eyes almost boring through him in rage. Rob smiled, almost enjoying winding him up.

  “I can’t believe Mike let you go there. I thought he’d murder anyone that went near his sister. If I’d have known, maybe I would have worked harder.”

  Oh fuck.

  “Do you want to see The Foo Fighters, Rob? Because you’re going the right way to being spark out on the floor right now,” Joel warned, squaring up to him. My fingers squeezed his bicep trying to catch his attention. I didn’t want Joel getting too carried away and spoiling our special night.

  “Calm down, Joel sheesh, anger management,” Rob scoffed, but I could see the fear present in his eyes despite the humour.

  “My anger levels will die down when you stop eye fucking my fiancée.”

  “Fiancée? Fuck, you act quick. I never thought the top shagger would settle down. I’m quite shocked but as they say more for me.” His response was not doing anything to bring down Joel’s anger levels, I knew I had to step in.

  “Do you not have somewhere to be? You’re kind of butting in on our big night.” I gave him a look of warning to move on already before Joel took it upon himself to do it for him.

  “Okay, okay, don’t say I’m not one to take the hint.” He raised his hands in a form of surrender and began to back off, slowly walking backwards.

  “But Iz, if all this marriage malarkey goes south, you call me okay.” He winked.

  Oh he just couldn’t help himself.

  “Are you kidding me?” Joel growled, his bicep tensed as I felt him go rigid with anger.

  “Joel, don’t bite,” I whispered, grabbing his face so his eyes met mine to plead with him just to calm down. He scowled and huffed loudly.

  “He does it every time that’s why I love it. See you at football next week,” Rob replied, goading him even more.

  “Fuck, I’m going to punch him,” Joel warned, giving me a look. I was about to punch that smirk off his face myself.

  “Hey, this is my night, right?” I had to talk sense into him to make him forget and not retaliate.

  “Yeah.” He sighed almost in defeat.

  “Well, calm down. You let people get to you. Do you actually think I’m remotely interested in him?” Not even if he was the last man on this earth would I ever look his way.