Page 135 of Alice Carver Manifests Her Perfect Life
‘Distraction.’
‘I’m not a model,’ I pointed out.
‘Precisely.’ A glimmer of Matthew’s smile returned.
‘Frieda? She made you smile.’
‘Youmake me laugh.’
I paused. ‘What about the fact you think I’m selfish and spoilt and frivolous?’
He shrugged. ‘I also think you’re kind and fun and irresistible.’
‘Irresistible? Since when?’
‘Since you rode that pony into the fence. But I suppose it was the summer we worked at the Lamb, I knew for certain; it was like living in technicolour for the first time. You were my Wonderland.’
‘Aw,’ said Astrid. ‘That’s sweet. See what he’s done?’
‘We did actually name Alice after the novel.’ Dad sounded tearful. ‘Didn’t we, Nell?’
‘She is fun,’ said Mum proudly. ‘She gets that from me.’
I tuned them out.
‘What about now?’ I asked. ‘How do you feel now?’
I stood for a second and a lifetime, staring up at Matthew, and the world paused; a blue butterfly seemed to hover in mid-air; the goldfinch listened silently; even the breeze skipped a beat.
‘Well, I’m in love with you, Alice Carver,’ said Matthew. ‘Just like I always have been.’
And as the world started spinning, and the butterflies spiralled, and the goldfinches fluted, and the breeze meandered around us – Matthew Lloyd finally kissed me.
Later, as the sun was setting in a flamboyant display of reds and oranges and purples, Matthew pulled me away from the talking, laughing groups of family and friends, and the congratulations and well-wishes, and Mum telling everybody she always knew about us, and towards the far end of the paddock, under the apple trees, where the volume was turned down. My hand tingled from him holding it. If he had that kind of physical effect on my hand, what was going to happen if we took it further? Correction.Whenwe took it further. There was a genuine risk of combustion.
Even thinking about it cranked my thermostat to super high. It almost hurt. I swallowed. Matthew paused by the wrought iron gates which led through to the garden of our old house. ‘Dirty thoughts, Alice?’ Matthew sounded amused.
‘Always.’
‘Well, keep manifesting,’ he said, backing me up against the stone gate posts.
‘I am.’ I shivered in anticipation.
Matthew trailed his gaze over me. Deliberately. Slowly.
I reached my arms round his neck and pulled him down towards me. As our mouths found each other’s and the weight of his body crushed against mine, the universe exploded in a kaleidoscope of colour, and I think I actually groaned out loud.
Matthew pulled back, and ran his hand through his hair. ‘Alice,’ he said, his eyes black. ‘We’re in full view of everyone.’
‘I don’t care.’ I caught his top and dragged him towards me again, ignoring the cheers in the background. ‘They like it. They can watch.’ I ran my hands down his chest and stomach, marvelling, longing.
A snippet of Dad’s voice carried over. ‘. . . he’s like a son to me already… ’
‘Yeah,’ said Matthew, pushing me away firmly. ‘Not doing this in front of your parents. Already declared my love. I think that’s enough for public consumption.’
‘Matthew! I can’t wait any more. Be reasonable. What about under the trestle table if you’re too prudish to do it here?’
Matthew chuckled. ‘What about doing it somewhere on our own?’
