Dave and Anissa moved around the party and chatted with other faculty members and even a few students from the fantasy and role-playing clubs on campus, which Montoya had belonged to as a grad student while Dave was a faculty advisor. Though Dave caught some ribbing about having shaved, it was worth it to see the happy gleam in Anissa's violet eyes.

Finally Eric and Lori showed up. As Wes and Ben shepherded them in, Dave began maneuvering himself and Anissa closer to the new ...