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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11章パート4




「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。

***


**********


——彼女は彼を殺すだろう。ゆっくりと——

レックスは、サイドラインでその夜の最後の試合を見ていた。試合に参加できないのは嫌だったが、順番を待たなくてはならない。

「そんなに怒らない方がいいわよ、あいつのこと」ロビンのチームは遠い方のコートで審判をしていたのだが、彼女とレックスは、それたボールに飛び込むエイデンを見ていた。その積極的なプレイは、後衛にいる女子の気弱な防御をカバーするものだった。

「あの一回めの試合は負けたのよ。キンムンは私に勝った、って死ぬまで言い続けるわ」

「なに言ってるの、ピザをおごればいいだけでしょ」

「ジルが選んだチームメンバーを見た時はね、今シーズンは期待できるって思ったの。ニールだって、四ラウンドめの選手としては悪くなかった。だけど、ニールは膝の手術、それでエイデンが来た」

「ニールよりエイデンの方が上手だと思うけど」

レックスは振り向いてロビンを見つめた。「どこが?」

「エイデンは、コートで一一〇%の実力を出せる。ニールより積極的だし、ポジションもいい」

レックスはロビンに反論できなかったが、それでも彼がチームにいるのが気に入らなかった。毎週、顔を合わせなくてはならない。「彼って、ぎこちないのよ」

「今は優雅な動きができないかもしれないけど、そのうち良くなると思うわ」

レックスは口を閉じた。

ロビンは彼を身振りで示した。「それに、結構冷静な選手よ。逆上しないもの」

エイデンは、いつもあの冷静沈着な表情をしていた。「本当に無愛想」

「自分に対しても、他人に対しても、悪口を言わない。絶対感情的にならないし。誰かさんと違ってね」ロビンはレックスをつついた。

「私は感情的じゃないわよ」

「へーえ、そうなの? コートの中で絶対に誰にも怒鳴らないもんね」

キンムンのチームは審判をしていた。レックスがにらんでいるのを見ると、あの滑稽な「指でさして笑う」しぐさをした。

「あいつ! 許さない」

「あなたのせいでしょ。先にキンムンをからかったのは、あなたよ」

レックスは不機嫌になった。その巨大な口を塞いでおくことができない。

とにかく心配しなきゃいけない、もっと大事なことがある。仕事もそう。それにバレーボールのスポンサーも。「私の女子チームのスポンサーになってくれそうな人、誰か知らない?」

ロビンの口は、おにぎりのように大きくなった。「それって、ジムはダメだったってこと?」

「そう」

「どうしてよ? 彼、何て言ってた?」

レックスはしかめっ面をした。「ちょっと曖昧だったのよ。『ノー』って言って私を傷づけたくないんだと思う」

「不思議だわ、どう考えても彼、お金に余裕あるじゃない」ロビンは、ジムが三つめのコートで審判をしているのをチラッと見た。「話してくる」

「やめて、他のスポンサーを探すから」

「他にお金を持ってそうな人、知らないわよ」

レックスはため息をついた。「もっと探してみる」

「どうしてジムはダメって言ったのかなあ。何か深刻なことが起こったのか、スポンサーにならないようにって、誰かに脅されたのかもね」

レックスは笑った。「一体誰が彼を脅すのよ? キングコング?」

***

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