Teaching | Eddie Munson

The Interrupter

Victoria used to hate evenings. They reminded her of too many things—her parents' fights before her mother left them, Billy's rage-filled outbursts, and the lonely, sleepless nights after he was gone. But now, evenings had become her favorite part of the day, and it had everything to do with Eddie.

Every night, after work, Eddie would be waiting on the bench near their trailers, claiming he just needed a smoke, but she knew better. It was a ritual now, those brief moments where they'd exchange stories, complain about life, and somehow, without either of them saying it, lean on each other. Today, though, was even better. Max was out, Susan was gone, and Victoria had the trailer to herself, waiting for Eddie to show up.

Music filled the space, loud and upbeat, as Victoria danced around the kitchen, spoon in hand, stirring the sauce. Her body moved with the beat, hips swaying in rhythm as she sang along, completely lost in the moment.

Eddie had slipped in quietly, leaning against the doorway as he watched her. His heart raced as he took her in—the way she moved, so free, so unguarded. It was mesmerizing, almost too much to handle. She had no idea he was there, and that only made it better. For a brief second, he wondered if he should interrupt, but something stopped him. He wanted to see more. Hell, he couldn't look away.

There was something intoxicating about the way her body swayed, the way she let go of everything and just danced. It was raw, unfiltered, and it stirred something deep inside him. His eyes traced the curve of her hips, the way her hair fell over her shoulders, and for the first time in a long time, Eddie felt completely out of control. The sight of her was doing things to him he couldn't put into words.

When she finally turned around and saw him, her breath caught in her throat. "Jesus Christ!" she gasped, clutching the spoon to her chest, eyes wide. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough." Eddie replied with a low chuckle.

There was something heated in the way his gaze lingered on her, something that made her pulse quicken.

"Well, I hope you enjoyed the show, cause you won't get an encore." she shot back, her voice steady, but her insides twisting in a way she couldn't control. She turned toward the stove, not able to bear his gaze anymore.

"Oh, I don't know about that." Eddie's smile widened. He pushed off the wall and crossed the kitchen toward her, closing the space between them. "That's a view I won't forget anytime soon."

Victoria's breath hitched as he moved behind her, his chest brushing her back as he peered over her shoulder into the pot. His warmth enveloped her, and she suddenly felt like the kitchen was too small.

"Need any help?" Eddie asked, his voice lower now, laced with something she couldn't quite name. It wasn't just teasing—it was closer, more intimate.

"N-no, I've got it." she stammered, cursing herself for how shaky she sounded.

Eddie didn't move. Instead, he leaned in just a fraction more, his lips dangerously close to her ear as he murmured.

"Mind if I taste it?"

She swallowed hard, her fingers gripping the spoon a little too tightly. "It's... uh, it's hot." she stammered, feeling her body tense as she turned slightly to face him.

"I can handle hot." Eddie assured her, his breath warm on her skin as he reached out. His hand brushed against hers as he took the spoon from her hand, lifting it to his lips without breaking eye contact.

Victoria couldn't tear her gaze away as he tasted the sauce, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment before they opened again, locking onto hers. "Damn." he said softly, licking his lips. "That's good. Here, you try."