Heartbroken (A Christmas Story) 6

Mr. Harlan arrived faster than I expected, maybe fifteen minutes after Mike hung up.

I spotted him before he saw me, pushing through the crowd near the entrance, scanning the room with that easy, confident stride.

He was in dark jeans and a black button down rolled to the elbows, no coat despite the cold outside, looking every bit the dad who could fix anything but way too handsome for it.

The club lights caught the silver in his hair, and a few women turned to look as he passed.

I waved from my spot near the stage pillar, feeling suddenly ridiculous in my tight dress and bold makeup.

He spotted me, smiled that warm, familiar smile, the one that had always made me feel welcome when I was over at their house and made his way over.

“Mara,” he said when he reached me, voice raised just enough over the music. He leaned in for a quick, awkward side-hug, the kind dads give. “You okay? You look… different tonight.”

Different. Code for dressed up, m