Indelible by Karin Slaughter

tell him she wanted to get the hell out of here, but either Jeffrey had not learned to read her signs in the last few months or he was fully aware of the treatment she was gettingand did not mind a bit. His shit-eating grin told her the truth of the matter.
    Jeffrey threw his arm around her, dragging her close and kissing her head. It felt more like he was telling her to be a good sport than anything else, and Sara pinched the fire out of the back of his arm to let him know she was not up for that kind of play.
    He winced, rubbing his arm. “Nell, can you give us a minute?”
    Nell walked down the hall and went into what was probably the kitchen. Outside the open back door, Sara could see a pool in the yard with another couple sitting around in beach chairs. In the distance, a dog was barking. Possum stood behind a grill with a long fork in his hand, and he waved at them both through the screen door.
    Sara said, “This detour seems a little planned to me.”
    â€œSorry?”
    She kept her voice low, mindful that Nell was probably listening. “Is this part of the indoctrination for all your new things?”
    â€œMy what?”
    She indicated the kitchen. “That’s what your friend called me.”
    To his credit, he looked annoyed. “She’s just—”
    â€œThinking I’m one of your sluts?” Sara finished, her throat straining even as she whispered. “Because that’s what she pretty much said, that I’m one of your sluts.”
    He tried his smile again. “Sara, honey—”
    â€œDon’t you dare call me that, you asshole.”
    â€œI didn’t—”
    She fought to keep her tone low. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, dragging me all the way down here below the damn Gnat Line just to embarrass me, but I don’t appreciate it and you’ve got about two seconds to say goodbye to these people, because I’m driving back to Grant right now and I don’t give a damn whether you’re in the car or not.”
    About three seconds passed before he burst into laughter. “My God,” he said. “That’s more than you’ve said to me the entire trip.”
    Sara was so furious that she punched him in the shoulder as hard as she could.
    â€œOw,” he said, rubbing the spot.
    â€œMr. Big Football Player can’t take a hit?” She punched him again. “Why didn’t you tell me you played football?”
    â€œI thought everybody knew.”
    â€œHow would I know that?” she demanded. “Rhonda at the bank?” He grabbed her hand before she could punch him again. “That slut at the sign shop?” She tried to get her hand back but he held her too tightly.
    â€œHoney—” He stopped himself with a grin that said he was humoring her. “Sara.”
    â€œYou think I don’t know you’ve screwed practically every woman in town?”
    He took on a wounded look. “They were just place-holders while I waited for you.”
    â€œYou are so full of shit.”
    He stepped toward her, reaching out to put his hands on her waist. “Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?”
    She tried to push him away, but he backed her toward the wall. Sara felt the familiar weight of his body press into her, but all she could think about was the fact that his friends were right outside the door watching. She expected him to give her a passionate kiss or make some other show of his manly prowess, followed by a victory lap around the pool and a high-five from Possum, but all he did was kiss her forehead and say, “I haven’t been back here in six years.”
    She stared at him, mostly because his face was less than two inches away from hers.
    Suddenly, the door banged open, and one of the most gorgeous men Sara had seen outside of a fashion magazine sauntered into the house. He was as tall as Jeffrey but with broader shoulders and more swagger.
    When