Degrees Of Distortion (Distortion Series Book 1)

by Aimee McNeil

  “What are you up to?” Lexie narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

  “Give me your feet.” His deep dimples carved into his cheeks.

  “Oh god, this won’t be pretty.” Lexie slipped her feet out from under the sheets and wiggled her toes in front of him. Alex began applying the deep blue color to her nails. It was a shocking contrast to her normally bare toes. “Why did you pick blue?”

  Alex looked up from his careful application. “Because it’s called Knockout, and that’s how I feel every time I look you—completely knocked out.”

  A smile broke out on Lexie’s face. “Then I will wear it always.”

  “Good.” Alex leaned down and kissed her leg. “Now get up.”

  “What can I get you, ladies?” The waitress smiled at Lexie and Stephanie with lips as red as rubies. The color was smudged onto her top teeth, and it was all Lexie could concentrate on despite her friendly bright eyes with heavy glitter eyeshadow. Even her lovely locket that hung around her neck didn’t hold Lexie’s interest. It was only that bright red lipstick smudged across her white teeth. It was a perfect match to the color that haunted her dreams. Red…always so much red.

  “Lexie.” Stephanie nudged her arm. “Is that okay with you?”

  “What?” Lexie watched the waitress’s ponytail swing back and forth as she walked away from their table.

  Stephanie shook her head with a smile. She was the most patient person in the world, and Lexie was so grateful. “I ordered us a couple of vodka waters with extra limes. Thought we should keep it clean drinking since we have a long drive tomorrow. I don’t want to have sugar rot in my guts.”

  “Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. You and your weak stomach,” Lexie teased.

  “What was that?” Stephanie looked at her with wide eyes.

  “What was what?” Lexie asked, confused.

  “Did you just smile?” Stephanie grabbed Lexie’s phone off the table.

  “Ha, ha. You’re hilarious. What’re you doing?” Lexie tried to make a grab for her phone.

  “I’m taking a picture so you know what you look like when you smile. You are completely gorgeous.”

  “Give me my phone back, Steph,” Lexie said, completely unamused.

  “I will—after you smile for a picture,” Stephanie goaded her, waving her phone in the air.

  “No.”

  “Yes,” Stephanie demanded as she kicked Lexie’s leg under the table.

  “Ouch!” Lexie broke out into laughter, and Stephanie snapped a picture. “You’re such a jerk.”

  “And you completely love me,” Stephanie said proudly.

  “Here you are, ladies.” The waitress set their glasses down in front of them.

  Lexie and Stephanie lost track of how many drinks they had as they let themselves enjoy the evening. A young man took the stage; his long hair hung in his face as he hid from view. No one expected the voice that projected from him as he had seemed nervous as he prepared his set. His tone was upbeat and lively as he strummed beautifully on his guitar. Stephanie had been right to suggest this getaway even if they hadn’t found what they were looking for. She was able to escape the pain for a while. It felt good to smile and remember the wonderful time she and Alex shared when they had taken this same road trip. The memories she could recall left a smile upon her face. Here, away from home, they were not tied to tragedy.

  “May I have this dance?” Alex placed his hand over Lexie’s menu.

  Lexie looked up, a smile completely captivating her face. “Of course, handsome sir.” She placed her hand in his. Alex led her out to the small dance floor, completely bare of anyone else. All eyes around the bar were on them, curious why they were on the dance floor while the musicians were between sets. “You do realize there is no music right now, right?”

  “There is always music playing when I’m with you.” Alex kissed her hand before spinning her around.

  “Oh yeah, what does it sound like?” Lexie smiled up at him as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He was a dream she fell in love with years ago. The first time she saw him, he stared at her without saying a word. Little did she know then that the speechless little boy would become the love of her life. Alex told her it took him three years to work up the courage to ask her out. She knew without a doubt she would have always said yes to him.

  “Something like this…duunnn dunnn…duunnn dunnn.”

  “Hey!” Lexie smacked him playfully on the chest.

  “I’m kidding. It’s more like this…” Music started to play, a soft beautiful melody spilling out of the speakers.

  “Wow, you’re good.”

  “I am, aren’t I?” He smiled and kissed her.

  They both looked over at the woman singing upon the stage. She smiled at them as she continued with the beautiful song about young love. It was perfect.

  “Hey, Lexie, come here. You’ve got to see this.” Stephanie waved her over to dozens of pictures lining the back wall. Lexie finished her drink, discarding the glass on the table before heading over. The pictures were old from the looks of the clothing the people wore.

  “Look!” Stephanie’s mouth remained open as she gawked at the photograph.

  “Where?” Lexie leaned in closer and gasped when she saw the exact likeliness of her mother, twenty or so years younger, sitting in this very bar. “Holy hell, that’s my mom.”

  “Stand next to it and I’ll get a picture.” Stephanie held up her phone and Lexie leaned in, pointing toward her mother’s picture.

  “This is unreal. Look at this one, she’s mixing drinks. Maybe she worked here.” Lexie noticed her mother’s face among others. “Mom told me she never left our small town of Freyview in her entire life. In fact, the idea of travelling always made her nervous.”

  “Guess your mom is full of secrets.” Stephanie wiggled her eyebrows excitedly. “Maybe she has a whole secret life.”

  “Yeah right, my mom is the definition of boring. She’s worked the same job for as long I can remember and has always lived in the same place. The next day is exactly like the last, never stepping outside the box. This doesn’t make sense.”

  “Well, based on these pictures, she lived outside the box at one time.” Stephanie stood on her toes to see a picture of Lexie’s mom pouring a long row of shots before a full crowd of onlookers. “Your mom looks amazing in these pictures. She had to have some excitement—she had you, didn’t she?”

  “I didn’t say she didn’t have any secrets, but she’s not the same person in these pictures.”

  “Hello, ladies.”

  Lexie and Stephanie spun around to see a tall, imposing man. At first glance, fear spiked in Lexie’s blood. He was rough around the edges with his unshaven face and striking dark eyebrows that slashed across his face in a permanent scowl.

  “Hello.” Lexie smiled tentatively.

  “Didja want me to take a picture of you two?” he offered kindly. He seemed less threatening with a smile warming his features.

  “That would be lovely, thank you.” Lexie held out her phone. His eyes looked almost black in the light as his gaze followed her. It was difficult to determine his age because of his hard edge. His skin had seen many days of sun, but his features still held an intensity that spoke of much fire in his blood. Something about him did not sit well with her. “I’m Jason, by the way.”

  “I’m Stephanie, and this is Lexie.” Stephanie spoke up when Lexie hesitated.

  Stephanie wrapped her arm around Lexie’s shoulder. The flash flared to life, capturing them. “Did I overhear you know Mary Connors?” Jason flipped Lexie’s phone around in his hand. A sudden chill flashed over Lexie’s skin.

  “Mary? No, the woman in the pictures looks like my mother, but her name is Beth.”

  “Isn’t that funny.” Jason looked up at her with a sly smile. “I bet you look exactly like your mother.”

  “So I’m told.” Lexie forced a smile. Lexie was struggling to find the pieces of the puzzle dumped on her. As far as she
knew, her mother had never been to Sugar Hill, but despite the fact that these men knew the woman in the photographs as Mary Connors, Lexie knew without a doubt it was her mother. Besides the exact likeliness, they both had the exact same tattoo inside their right wrist. It was barely visible in the pictures, but it was there. Lexie knew it well. She pulled her phone from Jason’s hold, seemingly reluctant to let it go.

  The bartender approached the end of the bar. “You givin’ these ladies a hard time, Jason?” The grey-haired man wiped down the counter before he threw his rag over his shoulder.

  “Naw, Mac. Apparently this young lady’s mother looks just like our Mary.” Jason grabbed for the beer Mac dropped in front of him.

  Mac’s eyes focused calculatedly on Lexie as he scratched his chin. “The resemblance is uncanny.” As much as Lexie thirsted for knowledge in regards to a life her mother had sheltered her from, she could detect the undercurrent of danger in these two men. She did not want them to know she suspected the two women be one and the same.

  “Does Mary still come here?” Lexie tried to seem unaffected by their attention and to reiterate the fact that this woman was not her mother.

  “No, she hasn’t been around these parts in over twenty years. She left quite the legacy.”

  “Yeah, she looks like she left a lasting impression.” Stephanie spoke up, waving her hand toward the wall.

  “You could say that,” Mac agreed offhandedly, slapping two glasses upon the bar top, pouring two glasses of vodka waters, and sliding them over to the girls. “On the house.”

  “Thanks.” Stephanie picked up her glass and sipped it with a nervous smile. Lexie wrapped her fingers around the glass but made no move to drink.

  “How old are you, Lexie?” Jason asked. He was prying. Lexie’s attempt to brush off the resemblance obviously wasn’t fooling this man.

  “As much as we would like to stay and talk, we actually need to be going. It was nice to meet you both.” Lexie didn’t wait for a proper goodbye. She grabbed Stephanie’s arm and pulled her past the men and toward the exit.

  “I agree the whole thing was a bit odd, but I don’t understand why we’re suddenly running off? I still need to use the washroom,” Stephanie complained.

  “I don’t like the feeling I get from those men. I think we should leave.” They both turned to see the men staring after them. There was nothing pleasant in their demeanours, no fond memories surfacing of the Mary Connors they knew and remembered.

  “You’re right. I’m suddenly getting an axe murder vibe. Let’s get out of here.” Stephanie picked up the pace, pushing through the exit door. Lexie had no intention of returning. They had stumbled upon a past her mother might have buried for a reason.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Lexie pulled her suitcase through her apartment door, swinging it closed behind her with her foot and sliding the chain lock in place. It felt good to be home.

  Her one bedroom apartment was modified to house her photography equipment. She used her bedroom as a small studio. Her bed was placed into her living space off the kitchen, piled with pillows that spilled over onto the floor. The rest of her furniture was placed where it could fit in the small space. It wasn’t ideal, but it was hers.

  Lexie’s walls were filled with photographs, all taken with her own camera. Years of her life played out around her. Some hung from strings running back and forth on the walls, some were framed, and others merely tacked to the wall with a painted border on the area around them to make them look finished.

  Alex looked back at her in so many pictures. His bright beautiful smile used to talk her into anything. She would say yes before he even finished his question. As much as it stung to look at his face, it brought her solace.

  Lexie turned on her music, filling her apartment with comforting sound. She hated the quiet and where her mind would take her should she let it wander. Having music on was a much needed distraction.

  Lexie lifted her suitcase onto her bed, unzipped it, and tossed all of her clothes into her hamper. She grabbed her cosmetic bag and walked into her bathroom. Turning on the shower, she slipped out of her shirt and pants and looked at her reflection. She was wearing her favorite lingerie; the delicate lace bra and panties were both a pale shade of blue that looked great against her sun-kissed skin.

  Lexie ran her fingertips over the lace cup of her bra. Closing her eyes, she tried to recall what it was like to feel pleasure. It seemed a lifetime ago when she craved touch and release. She remembered when it consumed her thoughts, when she would dress to impress, and engaged in flirty behavior. Those days she wore a smile everywhere; life was beautiful then. She couldn’t remember that version of herself now. She didn’t yearn for pleasure anymore. She didn’t even know if she was still capable of feeling it. She felt cheated, angry, sad, and she didn’t know how to get past these emotions ruling her life.

  Lexie was just about to step into her shower when a noise called her attention from inside her apartment. She froze for a moment, trying to hear over the music. She slipped out of the washroom on hesitant feet, searching for her purse, thinking the sound must have been her phone, but there were no new messages.

  Lexie was startled there was movement in her peripheral vision. She gasped, placing her hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. The curtains were swaying gently. Lexie slowly slid open her kitchen drawer and wrapped her fingers around the handle of a knife. Numerous scenarios played in her mind, none of them good. She could taste her heartbeat as it rose in her throat. She walked over to the window, her panic in full bloom. Taking a deep breath, Lexie grabbed the curtain quickly and yanked it open. She knew she hadn’t left the window open when she had left for the week, though, looking at the window now slightly ajar, she began to question whether she had missed it. At a quick glance, she might have thought it closed.

  Lexie closed it tight and turned the lock, making sure it was secure. Giving one last glance through the window, she noticed her neighbour staring at her from across the street. He was sitting out on his balcony with a newspaper in hand. Lexie looked down and remembered she was only in her underwear. She whisked the curtains closed quickly.

  “Well, I just gave beer guy a little show. At least someone is getting some excitement.” Lexie sighed, turning to go back to her warm shower. Her eyes fell on her apartment door. The chain lock was unlatched. “I’m going crazy,” Lexie complained as she grabbed for the chain and slid it securely in place. “I seriously thought I locked you…and now I am talking to my door,” Lexie moaned in disbelief as she stomped off toward the shower sweetly calling her name.

  The water melted away her tension as it heated her skin to the point where it turned a bright pink. Leaning against the shower wall, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the sound of the water spraying against her body. As hot as the water was, it could not penetrate the frigid temperatures of sadness burrowed deep inside her. She felt as if she was destined to walk the earth for the rest of her days numb and cold, constantly seeking heat that would never truly warm her. Eventually she talked herself into turning off the water.

  Lexie pulled on an off-white sundress covered in tiny flowers of different shades of blue, with the occasional purple thrown in the design. She loved it for its imperfection. She was the purple flower in the sea of perfect blue as far as the eye could see. She dried her hair, powdered her nose, put on a little blush, mascara…and shuffling through a basket of lipsticks, she found a shade called “So Good.” She ran the bright pink across her lips, waiting for the so good feeling to overcome her. Lexie turned her lipstick on the mirror and drew a circle around the reflection of her face, then proceeded to turn it into a frowning face. She snapped on the cover and dropped it back in the basket before flipping off the light.

  Slipping her feet into her favorite sandals, Lexie pulled her camera bag over her shoulder and set out into the late afternoon. She walked up her street, watching the world around her through the lens of her camera. She loved to capture
candid moments, interactions of people, and their real emotion when they didn’t know the camera was watching them. A few people waved in greeting; others knew Lexie well enough to know she was on the hunt for her pictures, letting her pass through as they carried on with their routines.

  Lexie kept walking until the pavement turned to sand beneath her feet. The beach that drew tourists to their small town of Freyview year after year was one of her favorite places to take pictures. The descending sun was still hot upon her skin as she took in deep salty breaths of ocean air. Children lined up for ice cream, screaming and laughing while they waited. Lexie lifted her camera to see what the camera would capture when it looked at the innocent faces of youth.

  Lexie had sold ice cream from this very stand years ago, while she was still young and carefree like the kids behind the counter. Scooping endlessly, she served the line of people yearning for the cold sweet treat while the sun rained down on the sandy stretch of paradise. It felt like forever ago.

  Lexie turned her camera on the surfers. She recognized every one of them…especially Evan; his red bathing suit stood out like a target, drawing her eyes. He looked up and noticed her, lifting his hand in a wave. They both were forever haunted by the same truth. Lexie waved when they all turned in her direction before turning on her heels and moving on. Her last encounter with Evan had been surreal. A line had been crossed, and she didn’t know how to deal with him now. She didn’t know if he expected anything to change.

  ***

  Lexie pushed through the doors of a diner, a place she had come to more times than she could possibly recall. The familiar tinkle of the bell sounded over her head as she stepped onto the worn black and white tiles. The delectable scent of apple pie assaulted her, making her mouth water.

  Eats and Treats Diner was famous for its pies, always served with a large scoop of delicious vanilla bean ice cream they made fresh every day. It was a hot spot for tourists as well as the locals, and it was rare to see an empty seat in the room.