Teaching | Eddie Munson

The Distance

Victoria woke up, gasping as she felt an overwhelming weight pressing down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe. For a disorienting moment, she thought she had fallen asleep beneath a pile of heavy stones. Blinking her eyes open, she quickly scanned her surroundings, only to discover that she was indeed not buried under rocks, but rather in Eddie's warm embrace. His arms wrapped around her in a tight cocoon, his breath a gentle rhythm against her neck as he let out soft snores. The sight of him, so peaceful and unguarded in sleep, coaxed a smile from her lips.

Glancing at the clock, Victoria's heart sank when she saw that it was nearly noon. She cursed under her breath, feeling the weight of panic as she attempted to free herself from Eddie's grip. Goodness, he was surprisingly strong for someone who looked so lean. After several futile attempts, she finally managed to wriggle out of his embrace. She quickly slipped out of bed, the cool air brushing against her skin, already making her miss his warmth.

"Vee..." Eddie's voice came out as a sleepy murmur, pulling her attention back to him. She glanced over her shoulder, her heart racing with fear that she had disturbed his rest. However, he seemed lost in dreams, blissfully unaware of her internal chaos. She bit her lip, a mix of concern and curiosity inside her as she wondered what thoughts swirled through his mind.

Standing there, watching him, memories from the previous night surged through her mind like a wave. The way his touch had sent electricity through her body. His voice, soft and intimate, whispering compliments that had made her pulse quicken. The look on his face when she had traced the tattoos on his skin. All of it made her heart race and her thoughts spiral, physically painful. She was grateful he was still asleep; she could hardly bear the thought of looking him in the eyes right now, not knowing how to decode his intentions. Was he just teasing her, or was there something deeper simmering beneath the surface?

Quickly, she grabbed her jacket and shoes, slipping out of his room as quietly as possible, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Out of all the views I was expecting to see today, you sneaking out of my nephew's bedroom was not one of them, Miss Hargrove." The low voice made Victoria jump, her heart leaping into her throat as she turned to see Eddie's uncle sitting at the kitchen table. He was partially obscured by a newspaper, the muted light from the window casting a soft glow around him, highlighting the silver strands in his hair and the deep lines on his face.

"Mr. Munson..." Victoria stammered, her cheeks flushing. She felt exposed under his gaze, like a deer caught in headlights. "It's not like that. Nothing happened. There was a storm and heavy rain, and I stayed longer... and I fell asleep, and—" Her words tumbled out in a frantic rush as she desperately tried to explain the situation.

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, Victoria." Wayne's voice softened, a genuine smile breaking through the awkwardness. He leaned back slightly in his chair, folding the newspaper. "I just wasn't expecting to see you here. It was so quiet, I thought Eddie was out."

Victoria could feel her heart racing in her chest. She tried to laugh, the sound coming out nervous and shaky. "I guess I'm not the girl you would expect to see coming out of Eddie's room in the morning... well, almost morning." She glanced down, unable to meet his eyes, focusing instead on the worn floor, its patterns suddenly more interesting than the conversation.

"Oh, on the contrary." Wayne replied, his tone light but his eyes sharp and observant. The confusion on Victoria's face only seemed to amuse him further. "You're the only girl I would expect to see. My nephew isn't the type to bring girls over just for them to sneak out in the morning." He stood up from the table, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he were trying to gauge her reaction. "Especially when he's already fond of someone."