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"It's worth bringing to Dr. Neely," I say, which is as close as I get to telling him he's right.

The corner of his mouth moves. "That means you like it."

"That means it has potential."

"You made the same face you used to make when you agreed with something in class and didn't want to say so out loud."

"I don't make a face."

"You get very still right before you agree with something you didn't expect to agree with." He's still doing that almost-smile. "You've always done that."

I look back at my screen. "The venue," I say.

"Right. So I was thinking about the ballroom a town over, The Hawthorne Ballroom⁠—"

"The usual venue is fine."

"The usual venue is exactly that. Usual." He leans back in his chair. "What if we moved it somewhere with overnight rooms? Somewhere guests could actually stay after and make a night of it with their husbands, wives, or friends. It stops being a fundraiser and starts being an event people are going to tell other people about."

I type a note.

"You're typing it," he says.

"I'm noting it for consideration."

"You're typing it because it's a good idea."

"I'm noting it because Dr. Neely will want options." I keep typing. "The venue would change the budget significantly. We'd need to look if it’s available and get pricing before we bring anything forward."

"I can do that," he says. "I'll make some calls tomorrow."

I glance over at him. He means it. He's already writing something on his three-bullet-point sheet, and his handwriting is exactly as chaotic as I remember, and he's frowning slightly in concentration, and I need to stop observing things about Knox Carter's handwriting.

"Colors," I say. "For the event. What are your thoughts?"

"I don't really have thoughts about colors."

"Light blue and white, the hockey team's colors," I say. "Clean, elegant, works in any venue. Easy to execute on a budget because we’ll be able to borrow decorations from different departments."

"Done," he says. "What else?"

"Entertainment. The past auctions used a DJ, which works but it's not memorable. This year I want something with more presence."

"Live music?" he suggests.

"Live music," I agree. "Someone local who alumni would recognize. Someone who's built a following here and has ties to the university."

Knox stops writing.

I see him make the connection a second before I do, which is annoying.

"Hacksack Blues," he says.

I was going to say it. I was a half-second from saying it myself. "They've been performing for three years, they have a strong local following, and they've opened for two state-renowned acts in the last year. And still, they love to be involved with the college. I bet they’d do it for less than the two thousand dollar budget. They'd give the event credibility and alumni would love the recognition angle."

“Plus, Landon Cole is in the band, and he’s also on the hockey team. He’ll be happy to help raise money for the Ridgehaven Wolves.”

“Right! That gives us an even better chance at getting them!”