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Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

ひとり寿司第4章パート3




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ひとり寿司



寿司シリーズの第一作

キャミー・タング

西島美幸 訳

スポーツ狂のレックス・坂井 —— いとこのマリコが数ヶ月後に結婚することにより、「いとこの中で一番年上の独身女性」という内輪の肩書を「勝ち取る」ことについては、あまり気にしていない。コントロールフリークの祖母を無視するのは容易だ —— しかし、祖母は最終通告を出した —— マリコの結婚式までにデート相手を見つけなければ、無慈悲な祖母は、レックスがコーチをしている女子バレーボールチームへの資金供給を切ると言う。

ダグアウトにいる選手全員とデートに出かけるほど絶望的なわけではない。レックスは、バイブルスタディで読んだ「エペソの手紙」をもとに「最高の男性」の条件の厳しいリストを作った。バレーボールではいつも勝つ —— ゲームを有利に進めれば、必ず成功するはずだ。

そのとき兄は、クリスチャンではなく、アスリートでもなく、一見何の魅力もないエイデンを彼女に引き合わせる。

エイデンは、クリスチャンではないという理由で離れていったトリッシュという女の子から受けた痛手から立ち直ろうとしている。そして、レックスが(1)彼に全く興味がないこと、(2)クリスチャンであること、(3)トリッシュのいとこであることを知る。あの狂った家族とまた付き合うのはごめんだ。まして、偽善的なクリスチャンの女の子など、お断り。彼はマゾヒストじゃない。

レックスは時間がなくなってきた。いくら頑張っても、いい人は現れない。それに、どこへ行ってもエイデンに遭遇する。あのリストはどんどん長くなっていくばかり ——

過去に掲載済みのストーリーのリンクはこちらです。

***


「だって、無数にいるあなたのボーイフレンドの一人とデートした、ってだけでしょ。そんなこと忘れなさいよ」

「ボーイフレンドの一人だけじゃないわ。私のボーイフレンドを盗むのは、あの子の使命なの。家族の集まりに男の子を連れて行くと、必ずあの子が攻撃を仕掛けてくるのよ」

「やめて、必ずってことはないでしょ」

「あの子に会った途端に私を捨てて、別れてから二週間以内にあの子とデートした男を数えたら、最低六人はいるわ」トリッシュは挑戦的な目でレックスを釘付けにした。

数字を持ち出されると、レックスは反論できない。「もう一つ忘れてるんじゃない? その子達は、結局ミミも捨てたのよ。それでも気になるのはどうして?」

「それが道理ってものなのよ」

「あなたの膨れ上がったエゴでしょ。また別の男の子を誘惑して楽しんだ後は、次に進めばいいだけ、でしょ?」

「その感情移入のスキルには感動するわ」

「おっと、あのわがまま娘がまた来るわ」ミミは何故こちらに戻ってきたのだろうか? バカな子。今度は、レックスは猫のケンカに割って入るわけがない。彼女はトリッシュの味方なのだから。

ミミはガラスのテーブルの近くまでのんびり歩いてきて、二人の間にもたれかかった。「ねえレックス、あいつはどうしてあなたのことをじっと見てるの?」

「ええっ、何それ?」

ミミは、店の反対側を指して頭を振った。

「あの新聞を持ってる人のこと?」トリッシュはわざわざ小さい声で話そうともしない。「バカげてるわ」

「新聞が逆さまよ」キラキラ光るシャツを着たミミは、お尻の片側に重心を移し、グリッターのついたエクステを整えている。

レックスは目を細めた。「本当?」

トリッシュも目を細めた。「あなたの方がよく見えるじゃない」

ミミはイライラしてため息をついた。「信じて、上下逆よ」

「だけど、顔が見えないわ」レックスは左右に傾いてみたが、よく見えなかった。

「じっと見続けたら、新聞を落とすかもしれないわ」

三人は、新聞に穴があくほど、丸一分間じっと見た。さぞ間抜けに見えたに違いない。それか、新しいX-Menのブロードウェイショーでサイプロスの役に応募している役者のようだ。

「バカげてるわ」レックスが燃えるような目をパチパチさせた。

「本当にそう」トリッシュがくるりと回った。「ミミ、他に行くところがあったんじゃないの? ティンブクトゥとか?」

ミミの笑い声は鈴の音のようだ。「あなたって本当に独創的ね、トリッシュ。ところで、昨日、あなたのお母さんがおじいちゃんのお墓に花を供えてたわ。たった一人で、叔母さんもかわいそうに」子供としての義務を怠っていることに対するトリッシュへの非難とは裏腹に、シワがよって下に引っ張られたミミの口元は少し甘ったるく、かつ悲しそうに見えた。

トリッシュはイライラした。「仕事だったのよ。あんたみたいに学生じゃない人もいるの。それに、私たちは四年で卒業してるしね」

ミミはそのうっとうしいポニーテールを揺らした。「あ~あ、それは良かったわ。つまり、結局あなたたちと違って、私は時間に余裕があるから」

トリッシュの顔色が柿のようになった。

震える電子音が緊張を打ち破った。レックスは命綱のような携帯に飛びつき、発信者番号をチラッと見た。「ハロー、キンムン!」これを聞いていたトリッシュの顔が少し落ち着いてきたことに、レックスは気がついた。バカなミミは、一歩も動かなかったが。

「レックス、土曜日の夜のことだけど、キャンセルしてくれる? 別の用事ができたんだ」

一日経った後の寿司のにおいのように、何かくさい。「別の用事って?」

「仕事だよ」

「ああ」興奮から落胆へと、鼓動が落ち着いてきた。「じゃあ来週は——?」

「分かった、じゃあ」

「オッケー、じゃあ、またね」

「ちょっと待って、キンムンと話させてくれる?」ゆるく握っていた携帯をミミが取り上げた。

「ちょっと!」レックスは携帯を引っ張った。

ミミは飛び跳ねて、離れた。「ちょっと待って」

「キンムンのこと知りもしないくせに」

「もちろん知ってるわ。二週間前に会ったもの」ミミはレックスの携帯で話し始めた。「ハロー、キンムン?」

レックスは怒りの中でラテをすすった。手が塞がっていなければ、いとこの顔を引っ叩いていたかもしれない。

「ええ、ミミよ。土曜日の夜、まだ大丈夫?」

***

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