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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7章パート3




「ひとり寿司」をブログに連載します!


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。

***


**********


ジョージは、アジア版バックストリートボーイズのような顔をしていた——すっきりとした美形、言い表せないようなキラキラした魅力。ちょっとセクシー。

「こんにちは」レックスは熱いお茶が入ったコップから手を離すように、指を開いたり閉じたりしている。ビジネスの場ですら、初めての男性との接触にはまだ慣れることができない。

彼はそれに気がついていない。別の手をレックスの肩に置いた——安心させようとするジェスチャーなのだが、レックスは競走馬のように飛び跳ねたくなる。(手をどけて)

「いいコンドミニアムがいくつかある。気にいると思うよ」レックスが大きく一歩下がったので、ジョージはとうとう手をどかした。

「見に行きましょう」

「僕が運転するよ」自慢そうに、キラリと光るレクサスSUVを指さした。

「自分の車でついて行きます」

コンドミニアムを見ながら、レックスはゴルディロックスになった気がした。椅子を貸してくれる子熊はいないし、お粥もベッドもなかったが。

一つめの家は遠すぎる。今の職場からではなく、SPZで働くことになったら、軽く一時間以上のドライブだ。

二つめの家は、値段が桁外れに大きかった——今の給料だったら悪くないが、最低賃金の場合、さらに三割増しの支払いになる。それに、少なくともローン申請が通るまで転職の予定を隠しておくのは難しかった。

三つめの家は、「要修理」というラベルが貼られたボロ家だった——受付嬢の給料でも手の届く値段だが、二年間は毎日ラーメン暮らしになるだろう。それに、正式な所有者となって一息ついたとたんに崩れ落ちそうな、薄汚い空気が漂っていた。

「今日のところは、こんなもんだね」ジョージは、レックスのさびたバケツのような車まで一緒に歩いた。彼の巨大なレクサスの隣にあると、哀れに見える。

「ジョージさん、時間を取ってくださって、ありがとうございました」(辞めたらこういう家を買うお金はなくなるけど、辞めるつもりだと言えば、融資担当者は煙を吐きながら走るダットサンより早く、私を見捨てるわ)

「この後、家に帰る予定?」ジョージはレックスの車にもたれかかっている。彼女のホンダは、ため息をつくようにきしんだ。

業者にしては変な質問だ。「ええ……そうですけど」

「今晩、一緒に食事でもどうかな、と思って」

(ええっ!)ジョージは今、本当のデートに誘ったのだろうか? シリコンバレーのエンジニアがするような安全策を取って、「メルアド教えて」とは言わなかった。スタバでコーヒー、でもない。ちゃんとしたディナーだ。(お嬢さん、勝ち組ね)

彼の腕の中に飛び込むべきだったかな? レックスはためらった。暗い思い出が、心の隅々で巣を張っていた。お腹の中が一瞬、締め付けられ、緩んだ。

(大丈夫、できるわ)バレーボールの女の子達がレックスを必要としていた。祖母は勝てない。

「ディナーいいですね、ジョージさん。どこに行きましょうか?」

***

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