Jarod's Heart (King Brothers Stories #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was even friends with him in the first place because Billy was not right in the head. 
    “Jarod doesn’t even know you’re alive, Lauren,” Billy smirked.
    Creep.
    Julie elbowed him in the gut. “That’s not nice, Billy.” Lauren noted that Julie was giving him The Look. Lauren grinned. She appreciated that Julie would come to her defense.
    Jason and Josh stopped wrestling long enough for Jason to say, “Jarod’s found his soulmate, Lauren. Sorry, but I don’t think you’re it. Ooof!” Jason bent in half when Josh slugged him in the stomach.
    “Don’t listen to Jason’s crap, Lauren. Jarod thinks you’re a good friend and he likes you.” Josh gave her a reassuring smile.
    “Dude, don’t encourage her. Her moony-eyed expressions can get a little embarrassing,” Billy laughed. “Come on, Julie. I’ll walk you to class.”
    Lauren stuck her tongue out at Billy’s retreating back as he walked away, his arms around Julie. Lauren noticed the narrow-eyed look that Jason was giving them as they disappeared inside the cafeteria. 
    Then, he turned his pretty green eyes on her and said, “I’m just teasing you, Sassy Pants, but I don’t want you to get hurt. Jarod’s going to marry Miranda.” 
    Jason could be intimidating to a lot of people but he was her friend, too, and she knew his teasing was coming from a good place. 
    Josh batted the grass and dirt out of his shaggy hair, “Told ya.”
    “Marry her?” Lauren whined. “Oh, you guys have to talk him out of it,” she pleaded.
    “Talk who out of what?” Jarod asked from behind her. Miranda was clinging to his side, like fungus on a tree trunk and her haughty eyes were laughing at Lauren.
    She let out a surprised gasp but Josh, seeing her distress, covered for her. “Billy wants to fight the creeps we met up with last night.”
    Jason eyed Josh, and for a moment Lauren thought he would give her away, but when Jason nodded his head in agreement, she relaxed. 
    “Yeah, we’re gonna talk to him about it.”
    Lauren smiled and explained, “Julie would never forgive him.” She smiled innocently at Jarod. 
    Miranda scowled.
    “Well, I hope you do talk him out of it, cuz Miranda and I have plans tonight and I can’t be there to watch your backs. What does Billy think he’s doing, anyway?” Jarod asked with disgust.
    “Just being Billy,” Jason said with equal distaste for Julie’s boyfriend.
    Lauren felt Miranda’s stare. Looking Lauren in the eye, she cuddled impossibly closer to Jarod. Never breaking eye contact, she said, “Well, kids, we gotta run.” She tilted her head in a coquettish fashion and asked, “…Jarod?”
    He quickly kissed Miranda on the lips before saying, “I’ll catch up with you two dweebs later.” But before he turned completely away he looked back at Lauren and said sweetly, “Later, Lauren.”
    She watched them go, sucking in a large breath and quietly letting it out. 
    “Thanks for covering for me, guys.”
    “No problem, Sassy.” Jason ruffled her gently on top of her head.
    Josh helped her up and draped a negligent arm around her shoulders as they walked back into the school. 
    “Besides,” he grinned, “Shit-for-brains really does want us to fight those creeps, so it wasn’t like we were lying to Jarod.”
    Lauren shook her head. “Julie has no idea what a jackass Billy is. Want me to try and talk to her again?”
    “Only if you think you can get through to her,” Jason said, before storming off without another word.
     

    BY THE TIME Lauren arrived at her townhouse, the snow was coming down in thick, wet flakes. Once she was safely inside, she turned the lock on the deadbolt and headed straight for the small gas fireplace, flipping the switch on the wall to light the flames. She set her purse on the dining room table and headed up the stairs to her master bedroom.
    The master was the larger of the two bedrooms upstairs, with an en-suite bathroom. There was a full bathroom in the hallway to