Degrees Of Distortion (Distortion Series Book 1)

by Aimee McNeil

  Her mind was so full of conflicting thoughts, and she found herself in a daze as she listened to the crunch of the gravel under her feet and the gentle wind in the trees. She tried to retrieve her phone only to remember that she no longer had it. The pictures she had stored on it were a source of comfort when things became too much. Now she didn’t know what to turn to. She needed something to ground her.

  Lexie used her mother’s cell phone for a flashlight; the streetlamps were spaced far enough apart that it left black voids along the road. Lexie was nervous walking along such a long dark street late at night with a bag full of cash. Nothing about her situation was safe. She spun around when she heard a noise behind her. Her heart raced in her chest as she waved her flashlight around the treeline. “Where the hell did you send me, Mom?” Lexie shook her head as she spoke to herself.

  A car approached and passed her by, the lights blinding in the darkness. She gave a gentle wave and continued on her way. She quickened her steps until the silhouette of the cottage came into sight. It was nestled in a row of others that all lined the water, separated by only a thin line of trees. The number forty-eight was nailed to the tree at the top of the driveway. It was completely dark and looked like it had been years since anyone stepped foot on the property based on the overgrown grass that no longer resembled a lawn.

  Lexie pulled the key from her pocket and slid it into the front door. There was a little resistance, but the key turned. Holding up the phone, she shone the light into the dark interior. She swallowed the lump in her throat, convincing herself to step over the threshold.

  Lexie flicked on the switch and flooded the small space with light. Her nerves uncoiled a bit now that she could see the inside. Locking the door behind her, she looked around. A laundry room and bathroom were on her left and a bedroom on the right side. The hall opened into a small kitchen and living space. It was all furnished with the basics, but it looked unused. Everything was too new to be convincing as a cottage, despite the layer of dust that coated the room. It was as if someone filled the entire place with the necessities and then walked out the door and never came back. Maybe that was precisely what her mother did.

  Lexie walked up the narrow staircase that led to a small loft with a bed sitting in the center of the space. She dropped her purse and bag on the bed and sat down on the edge. Tears started falling, and she couldn’t stop the flood that followed. She curled up into a ball. The emotions of the day could no longer be contained.

  ***

  Lexie woke with a start the next morning. Exhaustion had finally claimed her when her tears dried up. The night had been so quiet, no sounds of cars or commotion that usually took place outside her bedroom window. It felt like she’d lain awake for hours waiting for sleep to come, staring at the shadows that crawled across the walls from the trees dancing in the breeze.

  Lexie walked into the washroom and opened the cabinets. A couple of new toothbrushes and toothpaste were in the drawer. She ripped open the package and slathered it with paste.

  Running her fingers through her hair, she made it as presentable as possible. She rummaged through her collection of lip glosses in her purse to find one that was suitable for the occasion. “Optimism…that will work.” Lexie pulled the cover off and painted it over her lips. “I am in serious need of optimism and caffeine right now.”

  Lexie needed to find a store. She wasn’t sure how long she would be staying, but she knew she needed to eat and also more than just the clothes on her back. Lexie slipped her camera strap over her head and collected her phone from the charger, tossing it into her purse. She would not miss a call from her mother. She had too many questions floating around in her head that needed answers.

  Lexie walked out into the warm morning sun. The air tasted fresh and smelled woodsy from the thick forest winding tightly around all the cottages. She wished circumstances were different and she could enjoy the scenery. She took a deep breath and lifted her camera up to view the peaceful wilderness through her lens. The ability to capture a moment forever with one click of her camera always fascinated her. She loved the power to stop time, hold on to it, and revisit it whenever she wished.

  The sound of a car door closing pulled her attention away from a couple of birds chirping in a nearby tree. Lexie looked next door at the sleek black car that she hadn’t noticed the night before. Her knowledge of cars was slim to none, but it looked like it was built for speed and nothing practical.

  The front steps groaned loudly in protest as she stepped down, alerting the owner of the car. His attention drew to her as he swung a black duffle bag over his shoulder. She froze like a deer in the headlights. He was tall and shaped like a man that did nothing but physical activity. His intense eyes were staring back at her, and her heart throbbed so loudly she could feel it in her fingertips.

  She imagined it was like crossing a lion in the wild. He was captivatingly beautiful and terrifying at the same time. He gave her a friendly wave and, unlike her, seemed completely at ease.

  Her flee response screamed at her because she knew if she tried to engage she wouldn’t be able to form a coherent thought. She was too drained from the night before to muster up a proper conversation. She gave a small pathetic wave in response and quickly walked up the driveway toward the main dirt road. She could feel the heat of his eyes on her back, and she forced herself not to look back no matter how much she wanted to.

  Once the cottage faded from view, Lexie let go of the breath she was holding. She was definitely awake now that a hefty dose of adrenaline was pumping through her system. She wasn’t sure how she felt about discovering her next door neighbour was the embodiment of a fantasy. The memory of his eyes on her was not easy to shake, nor was anything else about him.

  Lexie knew a store was nearby; the bus had passed it before her stop last night. As she walked, she noticed a few signs pointing her in the right direction. Some of the areas she passed were campgrounds with trailers parked and people cooking on portable BBQs. Lexie could smell bacon and pancakes as she walked by, one site in particular causing her mouth to water. If it weren’t for her circumstances, this place would be the perfect relaxation retreat. A few children raced past her on their bikes, and she turned to watch them drive off into the distance. She was jealous of their carefree laughter.

  The path opened up into the back of the parking lot after walking a good thirty minutes. It was scattered with vehicles. A couple of older gentlemen were chatting next to a pickup truck. A woman unloaded her groceries while trying to calm her fussy baby. She took a deep breath and headed toward the entrance of the store. A bit of tension eased from her shoulders, and the tight coil of discomfort was beginning to unfurl in her stomach. The danger she felt the night before felt a lot less potent with the light of the new day. As long as she didn’t dwell on the previous night’s events, she could almost see herself enjoying this place. The only thing she needed was for her mother to call and explain what was going on. She reached into her purse and wrapped her fingers around the phone. The urge to call Stephanie was suffocating, but she had no idea what to tell her. She knew Stephanie would demand answers. She decided to wait for her mother to call first and then ease Stephanie into the situation once Lexie had a handle on it herself.

  When Lexie entered, a young man greeting customers smiled so big she thought it would crack his features. She gave him a polite nod and grabbed a cart. Her list was formulating in her head as she walked through the store. After a quick pass of the women’s section, grabbing anything that looked wearable, she moved onto the cosmetics department.

  Standing in front of a huge display of nail polishes, she searched for the one particular shade she needed. Running her fingers over the smooth bottles, she held that hope tight in her stomach…please be here. An empty spot on the shelf with the name of the ever-evasive color mocked her. “Knockout” was sold out.

  Lexie looked down at her toes, the color almost completely chipped away and non-existent on her baby toes. Lexie pul
led in a deep breath until her lungs screamed in protest. If she let her emotion show, she wasn’t sure if she could stop the tidal wave that would hit her. She needed to be strong now.

  Lexie collected a few other items, including a blush called “Happy” and a soft mauve eyeshadow called “Lucky Girl.” She desperately wanted luck and happiness. Wearing them might be the closest she could get.

  Her cart filled with all the necessities and food she gathered to hold her over for a few days. Her mother said nothing about being frugal with the money. She tried to spend wisely, but even just the necessities seemed to add up considerably. Luckily, she always kept her camera in her purse; otherwise she would’ve had to invest in another one. A camera was one thing Lexie could not live without.

  On the way to the checkout, Lexie decided to pick up something sweet. She was in the need for some sugar after a stressful few days—not to mention she was hungry and she was never one to make wise decisions in the grocery store on an empty stomach.

  With her mind completely captivated by the entire aisle of sweets, Lexie didn’t notice that someone was in the path of her cart until she collided with them. “Oh my god! I didn’t see you,” Lexie gasped.

  She looked up into eyes that pulled all the breath from her lungs and sent a scorching heat flashing across her skin. Her mouth dropped open as she watched the contents of his cup absorb into his t-shirt. The dark wet stain crawled across his chest, sticking to lines that made her legs shake. It took a moment for Lexie to realize her impossibly beautiful neighbour was standing in front of her. He stared back at her with dark, dangerous eyes she knew she could get lost in.

  “Oh god!” Lexie looked for anything to help him wipe up the mess she made. “I’m so sorry.” Lexie grabbed the scarf tied to her purse—the only thing that looked useable. She untied it with trembling hands and quickly pressed it to his chest. “Here. I’m so sorry.” Lexie kept her focus on her hands pressing the material to his wet shirt, not daring to look up into his eyes again. It made a strange feeling bubble up through the chaos in her stomach. She could feel his gaze on her. It heated her and made her aware of every inch of her body. His hands remained at his sides while she held the fabric to his chest. The subtle hint of vanilla from his drink mixed with whatever godly scent was coming from him made her head feel light. His skin felt hard and unyielding beneath the thin material. The realization of what she was doing hit her hard in the chest. Heat seared her face as she stepped back. “I’m pretty sure I just molested you. Oh god, can this get any worse?” Lexie placed her hands over her face and took a deep breath. “I should leave now before I make this situation worse. Keep the scarf, and here…let me give you money for dry cleaning…” Lexie grabbed for her purse.

  “I don’t want your money.” He chuckled lightly.

  Dear lord, his voice sounded like a bass instrument, vibrating deep and low.

  “I feel like I should give you money after what I just did. Please, just take it.” Lexie held out a fifty dollar bill. She knew her face was a prefect representation of the color red.

  He looked at the bill and raised his brow, passing her the scarf back.

  “Think of it as compensation for the emotional trauma I just caused you.” Lexie waved it at him.

  “My emotions are just fine.”

  “Good to know.” Lexie tucked the bill in his hand quickly and grabbed her cart. “Sorry again.” She walked as fast as she could in the opposite direction, leaving him and her scarf behind. She continued around the outer edge of the store until she made her way to the checkouts. Luckily he was nowhere in sight. Her embarrassment eased up as the cashier rang through her items. There had never been someone she wanted to see so bad and yet never again. The overdose of intense emotions made an uncomfortable knot form in her stomach.

  The cashier probably thought her rude because she could only bring herself to nod at her friendly questions.

  Loaded with bags that got heavier with every step, she walked through the doors and came to a sudden stop. He was standing directly in her line of sight leaning against his car—staring directly at her.

  Lexie felt like she was hit in the stomach. She couldn’t breathe. Adjusting the bags in her hands, she forced her feet to move forward.

  “Are you going to yell at me or something?” Lexie asked hesitantly when she approached. “I am really sorry about your shirt.”

  “No.” The edges of his lips curled up. “I was going to offer you a ride.”

  “Oh…no thank you.” As soon as Lexie finished speaking, the bottom of one of her bags gave out and the contents scattered on the pavement. Lexie dropped her shoulders. “I’m not usually this much of an idiot.” Lexie sighed.

  “I think it’s cute,” he said with an amused tone.

  One of her lip glosses rolled over and stopped against his foot. Luckily her bottle of wine that was in the same bag didn’t smash when it hit the ground. Lexie took that as a sign she was meant to have a few drinks tonight, and she was delighted the universe agreed. Lexie quickly grabbed all the items and stashed them in her other bags. When she looked up, he was holding out a few of her things, luckily none of them embarrassing.

  “Thank you.” Lexie took them from his hand. Touching his skin was like lighting up every nerve in her entire body. She imagined it was similar to taking a hit off a drug that gives you an amazing high. Retracting quickly, she tucked the things away, trying to ignore the sensation lingering on her skin.

  “I’m heading back. Let me drive you so you don’t lose anything else along the way.”

  “I don’t trust you,” Lexie blurted. She could feel her eyes widen in panic when she realized how ridiculous she must seem. “Listen, I had a really bad day yesterday…well, actually I have had many bad days lately, but yesterday’s events leave me unable to feel comfortable around strangers right now. I hope you understand.”

  “Fair enough.” He took Lexie’s bags from her hands. He smelled of the woods mixed with spice and heat. It was delicious and enough to make her swoon. Lexie didn’t know what was getting into her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

  “What are you doing?” Lexie’s focus snapped back into play.

  “Being neighbourly and helping you back to your place.”

  “I don’t want to get into your car. This is the perfect set up for some murder mystery. Girl ruins guy’s shirt. Guy pretends to forgive her. Girl stupidly gets into his car. Guy chops her up into a million pieces and scatters her body in the ditch and no one ever knows what happens to her.” Lexie’s voice cracked, showing her nervousness.

  “That is completely unrealistic. First, do you know how long it would take to chop a body into a million pieces? And then there is the fact that I wouldn’t throw you in a ditch where it would draw attention to the crime. I would have to be more discreet unless I wanted to get caught,” he said in a completely serious tone. Lexie unconsciously took a step backward.

  “Relax. I was joking.” He chuckled. “Listen, I will help you carry your bags back to your place and come back to get my car. Better?”

  “You don’t have to walk me.”

  “I insist.” He raised his hand for her to lead the way. “I’m not a stranger, after all. I am your neighbour, and I’ll admit I am exceptionally good at scaring off strangers. So this works in your favour.”

  Lexie sighed in defeat, letting her features soften enough to manage a smile. “My name is Lexie.”

  “Jackson.”

  “Thank you, Jackson, for being a gentleman despite the fact that I assaulted you with my cart and spilled your drink all over you.” Lexie felt the need to properly apologize, especially now that he was helping her home.

  “Don’t forget the part where you molested me.” Jackson laughed.

  Lexie covered her face with her hands in mortification.

  “Oh my god,” Lexie complained. “It’s not too late to change your mind. You don’t need to walk me.”

  “I never back out of anything,” Ja
ckson said. His lips curved up deviously, and his grey-blue eyes seemed to reach deep inside her and wreak havoc on her insides.

  There was something about Jackson that screamed danger—she couldn’t decide if it was his unwavering confidence, his strong brow that shadowed his stormy eyes, his high defined cheekbones, or his scruffy, unshaven face. He looked like a beautiful predator stalking his prey—her. She couldn’t bring herself to walk away from him, though. Despite her reservations, she was more terrified of being alone.

  Even though her instincts were unsettled by his presence, she couldn’t stop the pull toward him. A heat grew inside her, feelings stirring where they had been absent for so long. Guilt clung to everything she felt, but she held on regardless. She felt alive.

  “Are you staying here long?” Lexie attempted easy conversation.

  “No. Just passing through.” Jackson looked ahead thoughtfully, and Lexie took the opportunity to appreciate the view. He had a strong jaw that was cut perfectly. The thought of what his scruffy face would feel like against her skin grabbed her attention, and she could feel the flush creep along her neck. She tried to find a flaw that would make her realize he was just as human as everyone else. She couldn’t help thinking that Jackson was as hard as Alex’s features had been inviting. She didn’t know what possessed her to make the comparison.

  “Are you on a road trip adventure, or looking for something or someone?” Lexie forced her voice to seem casual.

  “Something like that.”

  “Well, you’re an open book, aren’t you?”

  “No, but you are.” His penetrating eyes held hers, challenging.

  “Oh yeah, how so?” Lexie desperately tried to keep her eyes locked with his.

  “You’re scared of me. Your eyes give it away. You swallow a lot, which indicates you are uncomfortable. The color of your skin and the way you keep licking your lips tell me you are also attracted to me.”

  Lexie’s breaths became deeper and more frequent. “I’m not scared of you,” Lexie said defensively.