Page 28 of Alice Carver Manifests Her Perfect Life
Jesus. I was thinking of something less concrete. ‘I can’t do that.’
‘Thought not,’ said Matthew. ‘Bit too real, isn’t it? And expensive. Because you can’t manifest.’
‘I could. But I’d have to want to. I don’t want a car.’
‘How about our old house then,’ said Astrid. ‘We all know how much you want that. And it’s for sale.’
FFS. Why would Astrid do that to me? Doesn’t she take down enough people in court? I look at them all, open-mouthed. Then I look at the house. Of course I want it. I can imagine myself in the kitchen right now, standing at the sink and looking out on the lawns at the back. I can imagine wandering into the huge sitting room with its triple aspect windows, a fire in the enormous grate, a splendid tree stretching up to the ceiling.
Matthew bit his lip. ‘Let’s just leave this argument now, shall we?’
‘Yes,’ said Astrid. ‘I’m cold and I want a coffee. Give it up, Alice. You know you’re losing this.’
‘You should listen to your big sister.’ Matthew patted me on the shoulder.
Oh god, I hate him so much. There has to be a way round this.
‘Fine. I’ll manifest our old house.’
Matthew gave me a hard stare. ‘You’ll manifest that house?’
‘She can’t manifest a house,’ said Astrid. ‘This is asinine.’
‘Yes, I can,’ I said. ‘I will have that house. I manifest having that house.’
‘Great,’ said Matthew. ‘Shall we pop in now?’
‘It doesn’t work like that. It will take me time. But I will live in that house. I will spend next Christmas in that house. And you will have to admit you’re wrong.’
‘You really want to do this?’ said Matthew, his eyes gleaming.
‘Alice,’ warned Aziz.
‘Absolutely.’ I ignored Aziz and stared straight back at Matthew. ‘I can’t wait to hear you admit you were wrong.’
Matthew slowly smiled that smug smile.
‘If you’re living in that house by next Christmas,’ said Matthew, ‘not only will I admit I’m wrong, but I will give you that painting by your favourite artist. By way of an acknowledgement. What’s her name again?’
Fuck, fuck, Alice. Remember. I watched him watch me panicking and saw his smile grow.
‘Yayoi Kusama!’ I said triumphantly. ‘And only if you’re sure you want to part with it?’
‘Can’t wait,’ said Matthew. ‘So. You genuinely believe you’re going to manifest that house?’ He extended his hand and waited.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more determined.
‘Absolutely,’ I said without blinking.
His smile got wider.
I would do anything, anything to wipe that smile off his face.
As much as I didn’t want to touch him, I put my hand in his. His grip was firm and strong and powerful and we both knew that he knew he had me. I was going to lose.
The tosser’s smile didn’t waver. Instead, he pulled me closer towards him so that his breath fleetingly brushed my ear, making me shiver. ‘I always win, Alice,’ he said, then turned back towards Astrid and Aziz, like I didn’t even exist. ‘Shall we?’
‘About time,’ said Astrid. ‘Let’s get inside; I’m freezing.’
