{"product_id":"2940149717620","title":"Bus Stop","description":"Steven has been looking for Mr. Right for a long time and believes he has finally found him. Well, nobody's perfect.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSteven is fascinated by a stranger at the bus stop below his window. Can he find a way to meet him? Steven waits, and watches, but almost a week passes before he sees the man again and has a chance to make his acquaintance.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcerpt: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSteven held a hot cup of coffee in his hand. The cup had been a present from his grandmother, and part of a set. The blue patterned delft from Holland reminded him of his childhood. The raindrops splattering against the window pane also reminded him of home, and how much he missed living in Amsterdam. He had moved to New York a few years ago although it wasn’t like the New York of his memories. Back in those days New York was dirty and dangerous and now it was clean and safe. All it took was the advent of the internet to sweep what remained of the former sin city into the annals of history. Nobody went to the bars anymore and nobody cruised the streets.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was Friday night, raining cats and dogs and he had nowhere to go. He imagined the vision he must present to anyone looking up at him from the street. A good looking blue-eyed blond – assuming they could distinguish him past a pair of curtains – staring wistfully out the window into the night. If anyone did look up what a sad visual he must present. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd that’s when he saw him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack hair plastered to his forehead and his face almost hidden by the turned up collar of his trench coat. He crossed the street, moving rapidly, and came to a stop under the bus shelter. Steven figured the man must be feeling mighty lucky to have found shelter in this deluge, since he didn’t seem to have an umbrella. He watched the man with interest. The streets were practically deserted so where was this guy coming from and where might he be going?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSteven drained his coffee cup. From what he could see, at least the man looked well built. A wet dress shirt clung to his defined chest. Fasten your coat man. You'll catch your death of pneumonia. Steven continued to watch. The man removed his trench coat and shook it out, his white shirt was thoroughly soaked, he wore a loose tie and dress slacks. Where was his suit jacket?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBetween the rain, the distance and the turned up collar, it was hard to make out whether the guy was a looker or not. Steven could make out the body through rain splattered windows. He watched as the guy ran his fingers through his wet hair. Then the guy fished around inside his pockets and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Steven’s heart sank. He wasn’t turned on by smokers. Still there was something about the man. He didn’t extract a cigarette but merely crumpled up the pack and tossed it into the trash. He stepped up to the posted bus schedule. Steven assumed he was looking for when his bus would arrive. He seemed agitated. Steven looked at his own schedule. When he discovered that he’d be living so close to the bus stop he got a schedule and taped it to the wall by the window. He was one minute away from the bus stop so he rarely ever had to wait. He ran his finger down the list and saw that the next bus would be in twenty minutes. Not bad unless you were standing out in the pouring rain. Oh well, he won’t melt, Steven thought. He turned away from the window and went into the kitchen to replenished his coffee. When he returned the man was gone. He hadn’t waited for the bus.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"LYDIAN PRESS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47149125730544,"sku":"2940149717620","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940149717620_p0.jpg?v=1763722038","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940149717620","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}