Page 45 of Cisco

Buffy had been told that Ellen was in on the whole keeping her identity a secret, thing.

“I agree,” Ellen answered while flipping more pancakes that would be placed in the warming oven until everyone was lined up to eat, cafeteria style. “I’ve known that boy for as long as I’ve known Hilly, and there’s no part of him that will be scared away if she tells him he’d been part of her early school experience.” She pointed at Hilly with her spatula. “On the other hand, if he feels like he’s been lied to, even by omission, that might create that possible wedge you’re so worried about.”

Buffy looked at Hilly triumphantly. “See? Great minds think alike. Tell the man everything and see what happens.”

Hilly grumbled to herself.

Easy for Buffy to say. She wasn’t the one who’d spent years of her childhood, fat and bullied.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cisco tried to tamp down his nervous anticipation as he drove. How would Hilly treat him after she’d had a few days to think about their epic kiss? Would she return to giving him the stink-eye like she had before nearly admitting they might have something together, or would she greet him with enthusiasm; as someone she’d pretty much decided to date at the end of her camp season?

It really was a toss-up.

Cisco turned down the road to the camp. He was driving his truck today, because the chief had been correct. Wrestling with his bike would have sucked. Just the amount of pulling he was experiencing while handling the wheel was damned uncomfortable, but nothing would have kept him from making the trip today to be near Hilly.

He pulled up to an entirely different scene from the one he’d left on Saturday morning. He’d thought then, that the camp was a peaceful, serene place, but now…

Children’s happy screams rent the air, and small bodies ran this way and that, careening through the woods in gleeful abandon.

Right. This was the kids free time after lunch, if Cisco had memorized the schedule correctly. It was just prior to when they’d go off to do their supervised sports and physical activities, which included his class in self-defense.

Turning the truck off, Cisco gently eased himself out of his cab, grabbing the smaller versions of his RedMan suit, which he’d borrowed from the station. He wouldn’t be putting his on today, but that didn’t mean the kids couldn’t do some light sparring while he did instruction and overwatch.

He walked toward the dining hall, headed for the covered pavilion beyond, that Hilly had designated as his outdoor space, when a stunning brunette sucking on an orange popsicle stepped out of the cafeteria.

She stopped dead with the treat in her mouth, and blinked.

“Hello,” Cisco offered with a smile.

The orange confection came out slowly, and she licked her colorful lips slowly and deliberately. “Well, hello. You must be Cisco.”

The woman then proceeded to give him an unabashed perusal from head to toe, not even attempting to hide her examination.

“That’s me.” Cisco suppressed a sigh. He was used to getting this reaction from women in bars, but he hadn’t expected it here. And this blatant inspection did absolutely zero for his libido because… Hilly was the only one he wanted looking at him like he was good enough to eat.

Please don’t let her make a pass, Cisco muttered to himself.

“I’m so happy to meet you,” she finally continued with a huge grin. “I’m Buffy Minton, Hilly’s ex-roommate and friend, and for a few months this summer, her therapist extraordinaire for the kids at camp,” she enlightened him with mischief in her eyes. She took another lick of her frozen treat, eyeing him again, this time with a different kind of speculation. “And hot damn. I can totally see why you’ve got my bestie discombobulated.”

“Discom… Who says that? And,” Cisco swallowed, “What? I do?”

Buffy didn’t hesitate. “Oh, yeah. I haven’t seen her this befuddled in years. You must have some kind of potent mojo going on, because my Hilly doesn’t usually talk anything but crafts, s’mores, and campfires during the summer months.”

Cisco couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips, hearing about Hilly from this outspoken woman. “She’s been talking about me?”

There was not a hint of artifice. “She sure has. A lot, and effusively. But if you tell her I told you that, I’ll deny it ‘til my dying breath.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” he responded, wanting nothing more than to high-five the woman, but he managed to hold back, grinning like a fool, instead. “And Buffy?” He hitched the suits he carried a little higher in his arms.

“Yes, Cisco?”

“Thank you.”

“Any time.” She popped the frozen dessert back into her mouth and winked before she turned and headed down the path toward the cabins.

Now that was a great way to boost his spirits. In truth, he’d actually been doubting himself, wondering if he’d just built-up the connection he’d imagined between himself and Hilly. Having her best friend confirm that he’d been on Hilly’s mind, kept that shameless grin plastered to his face.

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