Page 132 of Alice Carver Manifests Her Perfect Life
‘Mummy!’ said Ernie. ‘Aunty Alice is trying to kick Matthew. Am I allowed to?’
‘Disgraceful behaviour, Alice,’ said Arrie.
And then suddenly Matthew’s arms were around me and he was holding me so close and tight that I was unable to move. I was just contained in uncompromising, solid muscle and strength. ‘Stop fighting,’ he said quietly.
Even now, when I wanted to kill him, my perfidious body responded to his proximity.
‘What on earth is going on, Matthew?’ asked Mum.
‘Nothing,’ said Matthew loudly, from above my head. His voice reverberated through me.
‘I just need my letter back,’ I gasped, my voice muffled against his chest. ‘You’re not meant to read it. I wrote it to the Universe. Give it back.’
Then Matthew bent his head so his mouth was against my ear, making sparks tango down my skin. ‘Too late,’ he whispered. ‘I already read it.’
I went limp. He had read it. I whimpered softly. ‘All of it?’
‘Every. Single. Word.’
‘What’s happening, Matthew? Why are you both whispering?’ said Mum crossly. ‘Is Alice having some kind of fit? The guests are about to arrive!’
‘She’s okay,’ called Matthew. He returned his attention to me. ‘I’m going to let go,’ he said quietly. ‘But if you try and take my letter I won’t be happy. Understood?’
‘I accept defeat,’ I muttered. ‘Humiliate me. Tell them what I did. I don’t care. I was drunk.’
Matthew chuckled and released me. ‘Is this how you’re playing it? You were drunk? The letter isn’t for me? You didn’t mean it?’
I stared at an ant crawling up a blade of a grass and wondered if it was possible to manifest swapping bodies.
‘Matthew, why is your barman here?’ said Mum.
Matthew’s head jerked up. ‘Hey, Troy. I take it you didn’t get my message, then?’
I looked over, the sun eye-wateringly bright after the protection of Matthew; Fit Barman from yesterday was walking through the grass towards us, carrying some kind of heavy bubble-wrapped package.
‘Er, what message?’ asked Fit Barman Troy.
‘About leaving it at the house?’
‘Sorry.’ Fit Barman Troy stopped in his tracks. ‘Do you want me to take it there instead?’
Matthew glanced back at me and rubbed his jaw. ‘No. I guess it’s here now.’
‘Let me help,’ said Drunk Stephen, practically vaulting over.
‘The other thing I asked, Troy,’ said Matthew, ‘all in hand?’
‘Yep.’ Fit Barman Troy nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. ‘So where do you want this, Matthew?’
‘It’s actually for Alice.’ Matthew shrugged. ‘I was going to give it to her later. So, wherever she wants it.’
‘Ooh, it’s massive, Matthew,’ said Mum, perking up. ‘Is it a present?’
‘No, it’s a prize. She won it.’
‘Sounds exciting, Alice,’ said Dad. ‘What is it?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ I said, my voice croaky.
