Susceptible

Chapter eight

My mouth hung open in shock at her question. I tried to compose myself and looked at Alex. He didn't seem shaken up by the question. Nothing seemed to suprise him. Instead he simply laughed replying to his mom's question.

"No mom we're not dating. Adriana has just been a great friend in helping me get settled." I nodded my head in agreement. Mrs. Sullivan let out a sigh sounding disappointed by that news.

"Oh well a mother can dream, can't she? Besides I feel the chemistry in the air. It won't be long before I'm right."

I felt my face getting hot, but Alex quickly came to the rescue.

"Mom you're always trying to throw me together with every girl. I could bring a sixty year old home and you'd think we were dating. Enough about me. What's been happening with you and in Reece?"

The question from Alex launched her into the town gossip. I tried to keep up but it was a lot of names of people I didn't know, and connections I couldn't make. The only way you could possibly follow her stories was if you had been born and raised in Reece. Instead I let my brain zone out only half way listening to the news of the latest divorce and who's kid dropped out of college.

I found myself watching Alex beside me. He seemed more relaxed in this environment with his mom. He gave some input into the conversation, but mainly was content with letting her talk. He seemed to know everyone she was talking about and I wondered what it was like to grow up in a smaller town, and what his childhood was like.

I wondered if there was something traumatizing that drove him to becoming The Machiavellian. His home was nice and he lived in a cute neighborhood in a friendly town. I know he said his father died and his sister didn't communicate with the family, but no weird or bad vibes lingered in the house. His mom seemed very happy like him, so I still couldn't figure out where the villian side of him came from.

"Oh my goodness I've been talking for ages." Mrs. Sullivan suddenly said. "I must have been boring poor Adriana here to death." My head snapped towards her at the mention of my name. I smiled sweetly at her.

"Of course not! I found it interesting to hear about the world Alex is from."

"So did you grow up in the city?" She said smiling at me.

"Sure did, it's my home." I answered. "What about you Mrs. Sullivan? Are you from Reece?" I turned the questions back to her not wanting any questions on me. I didn't want to have to lie to her at any point.

She quickly gave me a quick run down on her childhood that involved lots of moving, and I found myself better able to pay attention to this.

"And then I met Alex's father, my late husband, here in Reece. I fell in love with him and this town and haven't moved or moved on since."

"He sounds lovely." I said their story was very sweet.

"He was." Alex answered before his mom. I turned to look at his face but it gave away little emotion. His mother's however was full of admiration.

"Oh." She said rising from the couch. "Let's have some cake. I made it myself last night. Couldn't stand to buy those old ones from the store. If I want a good cake for my birthday I've got to make it myself." Alex and I both stood up and followed her to the kitchen.

"Wait first candles!" Alex said stopping his mom before she cut it. He rummaged in a drawer pulling out a few candles and matches. He placed five candles in the cake.

"Five candles for twenty-five." He said winking at his mom. He struck a match and lit up all the candles.

"Happy Birthday to you.." He started the song. I quickly joined in feeling slightly awkward but the feeling was dismissed when I saw the look on her face and the tears in her eyes.