Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook Page A

blood and the floor is marble. Maybe they just didn’t have Lysol with bleach back then.”
    Nicole laughed and stood up. “Okay, fair enough. Let’s go in the backyard, where we can jump around.”
    â€œLook, about this cheerleading thing—”
    â€œHi, Nathaniel!” Nicole cut me off. She pushed her shoulders back and jutted one hip out. I looked up the stairs and watched him lope down. “Great place you’ve got here.”
    â€œYou know what they say, no place like home.”
    Nicole burst into laughter as if he’d said the funniest thing ever known to man. She placed her hand on Nathaniel’s forearm and leaned in. “You’re wicked.”
    â€œThat’s the rumor about town,” Nathaniel said, directing a meaningful look my way. Nicole gave another tinkling laugh. “What brings you to our humble abode?”
    â€œWhat, your company isn’t enough?”
    If she kept laying it on so thick, I was going to gag. “Nicole gave me a ride home,” I said, interjecting myself into all the flying hormones in the room.
    â€œI’m teaching Isobel some of the cheerleading routines.”
    I felt like pounding my head on the wall. I didn’t look at Nathaniel, because I knew if I did I’d want to smack the smirk right off his face.
    â€œCheerleading?” I heard the amusement in his voice.
    â€œI haven’t exactly agreed to join,” I said.
    â€œBut you have to! All the popular girls are on the squad,” Nicole insisted.
    â€œYeah, Isobel, all the popular girls are on the squad,” Nathaniel echoed. I could see his lip twitching as he tried to hold in a laugh.
    â€œNathaniel, are you one of those cheerleader haters?” Nicole put on a frowny face and leaned forward for maximum cleavage exposure. Nathaniel looked. Of course he looked. She practically was shaking her breasts in his face. If he wasn’t careful, a wayward nipple was going to take out one of his eyes. Okay, so it would have been impossible for him not to notice. However, he didn’t have to keep noticing. It was like his eyes had homing beacons on her boobs.
    â€œWho could hate you?” Nathaniel answered, finally pulling his gaze away from her chest. I fought the urge to choke on all the cheesy lines floating around. I guess this was one type of reindeer game he was comfortable playing.
    Nicole shoved him lightly, one of those pushes that’s really just an excuse to touch a guy’s arm.
    â€œWell, I guess we’d better start that practice, huh?” My voice came out louder than I expected. Both Nathaniel and Nicole looked over at me in surprise.
    â€œI wouldn’t want to stand in the way of school spirit,” Nathaniel said. “You guys have fun.”
    â€œYou can watch us if you want,” Nicole invited in a purry voice.
    â€œNo, you can’t.” The last thing I needed was Nathaniel watching me attempt one of my deformed cartwheels. Nicole scowled like a pouty child who’d been told that playtime was over.
    â€œI’ve got calculus anyway,” Nathaniel said.
    â€œMaybe next time?” Nicole asked.
    â€œWouldn’t miss it.” Nathaniel ambled off to the kitchen. Nicole and I watched him walk away.
    â€œSo what was that?” I asked when I was sure he couldn’t hear us.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    I raised one eyebrow in response.
    â€œWhat? He’s cute. He might be your brother, but you must have noticed.”
    â€œHe’s my stepbrother.”
    â€œSame thing. You have to invite me to spend the night some time. He’s one I’d love to catch half-asleep,” Nicole said, licking her lips. An image of Nathaniel in his boxer shorts shot into my head. I forced it away on the off chance she could read minds.
    â€œI’m not sure he’s looking to date anyone,” I cautioned.
    Nichole suddenly looked concerned. “It doesn’t bother you that