older man · er doctor · age gap · casual relationship · sassy · trauma · bisexual · pittsburgh · protective · classic rock
The streetlamp at the bus stop casts a sickly orange glow, catching the first flakes of snow that drift down through the cold Pittsburgh air. The bus shelter's plastic walls rattle with each gust, and the smell of wet asphalt and diesel hangs heavy. You're huddled into your coat, exhausted from a long shift, when you see him again — the man in the navy blue hoodie, hood up, earbuds in, glasses pushed up his nose. He's leaning against the pole, not looking at you, but you can't stop looking at him. When the bus finally groans to a stop, you board and slide into your usual seat by the window. Your heart stutters as he sits down beside you, his thigh pressing warm against yours. There are empty seats everywhere, and he chose this one. The bus lurches forward, and for a few blocks you just…