"Then what are you looking for?" I let go of her arm as the question surprised us both. "I'm sure Landsman College has plenty of sensitive poets or focused scientists. You can take your pick."
Clarity laughed and shook her head. "No, I couldn't. And all I'm looking for is someone who challenges me, someone who pushes me to be more. I don't really get that from college guys. It's probably going to have to be someone older, who's been out in the world."
My fingers brushed one silky curled hair hanging loosely. "I'm glad you know you deserve better than a frat house football player."
"You know I'm really going home, right? I have no intention of going to that party at all," Clarity said. Her face leaned toward my hand and she brushed her cheek along my fingers.
I stepped back and shoved both hands in the pockets of my tuxedo pants. "Always the good girl. I bet the dean never even gives you a curfew because you're always home on time anyway."
"Good girl?" Clarity asked. "What about the blatant lies I just told a campus security guard. Pretty sure that breaks to the honor code too."
I wondered if giving the security guard a false name rated up there with almost kissing me in my office. Clarity had leaned in, her fingers tugging at my shirt front. I knew I hadn't imagined that. She was just as aware as I was how close we'd come, but I didn't see even a glimmer of regret in her green eyes.
"Do you think the honor code encompasses all honor?" I asked.
Her face lit up at the challenging question. "Interesting. Are you asking me if I believe in white lies?"
"Well, you did just give the security guard a false name to save your father any possible embarrassment," I said.
"True." Clarity tipped her face to the night sky and thought for a moment. "The Honor code doesn't have a section about lies meant as a small kindnesses."
"You should tell your father to include a section on that," I joked.
Clarity smiled but shook her head. "My father loves to talk about creativity and passion but he won't let anyone bend the rules. The honor code is his crowning achievement."
"Yet the students still love him. He has to have a level of understanding that isn't set in black and white type on college letterhead."
Clarity sighed. "He's friendly, he's approachable, but he's strictly by the books. Why do you think he's such a great dean of students?"
"Even when it comes to his own daughter and her pursuit of happiness?" I asked.
She took a few, meandering steps down the sidewalk and disappeared into the shade of a large maple. The tree still retained a thick canopy of dark-red leaves that rustled in the chill breeze. I followed her and held out my jacket again.
"No, thanks, I like feeling the changing season," Clarity said. She cocked an eyebrow at me. "And, yes, I'm sure my father would disapprove."
I laughed. "He keeps talking about breaking you out of your shell. He wants you to branch out and explore all the possibilities. I wonder what he'd think if you actually followed his advice."
Clarity laughed and rubbed her silken, bare arms. "He'd jump online and find the nearest nunnery then pack my bags for me."
"Oh, come on, your father is a good man. He knows some day he'll have to let you make your own mistakes."
"Is that what breaking out of my shell would be? A mistake?"
I rolled my eyes and laughed. "No, Miss By-the-Books. Revelations are uncomfortable and they aren't always the exact right thing, but they are never mistakes." I stepped closer to her in the shadow of the tree. "I can just imagine what'll you'll be like once you're free of all these self-imposed practicalities."
"Oh?" Clarity gave me a playful shove. "And what do you imagine I'll be like?"
"A wild Bohemian with tangled hair that runs around barefoot and speaks to the universe through the written word."
Clarity used both hands to shove my chest again as she laughed. "Really? Well, then let me imagine you out of your hard shell."
"I don't have a hard shell," I rubbed my chest as if she'd wounded me.
"'Self-imposed practicalities' seems like an apt description for you too. Once those are gone I imagine you are much different."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "And what do you imagine is under my hard shell?"
Clarity's eyes sparkled even in the deep shadow of the tree. "I bet you write beat poetry, drink shots of fireball whiskey, and dance on tabletops when you're not trying to be a buttoned-up professor."