Billie pulled out a bottle of wine and set it on the counter with a determined clink, followed by a bottle of tequila. She glanced at Cedric, who was sitting on the other side of the kitchen island, his ever-present guarded demeanor firmly in place.

"Okay, so," she said, twisting the corkscrew into the wine bottle with practiced ease. "My album drops tonight. I'm hella nervous, and I'm going to drink to take the edge off." She poured herself a glass and then pointed the tequila bottle in Cedric's direction. "You drinking with me?"

"No." His voice was flat, but there was a slight twitch in his lips, almost like he was fighting a smirk.

"Come on," Billie pouted, leaning on the counter. "One shot. For me."

Cedric raised an eyebrow, his green eyes narrowing. "You're trying to get me drunk, aren't you?"

"Would it be the worst thing in the world?" she teased. "Seriously, one shot. It's not gonna kill you."

Cedric sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Fine. One."

"Victory!" Billie grinned, grabbing two shot glasses from the cabinet. She poured a generous amount of tequila into each glass, sliding one toward him. "To my album," she said, holding her glass up.

"To your album," Cedric echoed, lifting his glass with a slight shake of his head. They clinked glasses and downed the shots, Billie grimacing as the tequila burned its way down her throat.

"Okay, not bad," she said, exhaling loudly. "But we're just getting started."

"Billie," Cedric began, but she was already pouring another round.

"One more," she insisted, sliding the glass back to him. "I know i said one shot, but two's practically the same thing."

He gave her a look, but he didn't protest this time. They drank again, and before long, Billie's infectious energy had pulled him further into her impromptu celebration.

Hours passed, and the bottles began to empty. Billie's nervousness about the album seemed to dissolve with each shot, replaced by a carefree laughter that filled the room. Cedric, despite his initial resistance, found himself loosening up in a way he hadn't in years. He wasn't drunk-at least, not in the way Billie was-but he felt... different. Lighter.

By the time they reached their twentieth shot (Billie's count, not his), the room was spinning slightly, and the conversation had shifted into the kind of intimate territory only alcohol could unlock.

"You're way too serious all the time," Billie said, her words slightly slurred as she leaned against the counter. "Like, do you ever just... I don't know, let yourself be happy?"

"I'm happy enough," Cedric replied, though his tone lacked conviction.

"Liar," Billie said, pointing a finger at him. "You've got this whole mysterious, broody thing going on, but I see through it. You care. You're just scared to show it."

Cedric opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Billie closed the distance between them, standing just inches away. Her blue eyes locked on his, and for a moment, the air between them felt charged.

"Billie," Cedric said, his voice low. "You're drunk."

"So are you," she shot back, her tone playful but laced with something else-something deeper.

"I'm serious," he said, though he didn't step away. "You're not thinking straight."

"I'm thinking perfectly fine," Billie said softly. Her gaze dropped to his lips, and before either of them could second-guess it, she closed the gap, pressing her lips to his.

The kiss was tentative at first, almost hesitant. But then Cedric's hands found her waist, pulling her closer, and Billie melted against him. The world around them seemed to fade, the only thing that mattered was the way their bodies fit together, the way her fingers ran over the short buzz of his hair.

It wasn't clear who made the next move, but suddenly they were stumbling out of the kitchen, their lips never parting. Cedric's jacket hit the floor somewhere along the way, followed by Billie's oversized hoodie. They barely made it to the couch before they collapsed together, a mess of tangled limbs and heated kisses.

"Are you sure about this?" Cedric asked, his voice rough as he pulled back just enough to meet her gaze.

Billie nodded, her hands framing his face. "I've never been more sure."

The next morning, Billie woke up to sunlight streaming through the windows and a dull ache in her head. She groaned, burying her face in the pillow as the events of the night before came rushing back. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the tequila, the kisses, and the way Cedric had held her like she was the only thing that mattered.

She rolled over, her heart skipping when she saw Cedric sitting on the edge of the couch, already dressed. His back was to her, but the tension in his shoulders was unmistakable.

"Morning," she said softly, her voice hoarse.

Cedric glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Morning."

Billie sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest. "About last night..."

"It shouldn't have happened," Cedric said quickly, cutting her off. "It was unprofessional. I crossed a line."

Billie frowned, her stomach sinking. "We both crossed a line."

"That doesn't make it okay," he said, standing up and running a hand over his buzzed hair. "I'm your bodyguard, Billie. My job is to protect you, not-"

"Not what?" she interrupted, her tone sharper than she intended. "Not care about me? Not feel anything?"

Cedric looked at her, his green eyes conflicted. "This isn't about feelings. It's about boundaries."

"Bullshit," Billie said, standing up and wrapping the blanket around herself. "You're just scared."

"Maybe I am," Cedric admitted, his voice quiet but firm. "But that doesn't change the fact that this can't happen again."

Billie opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He wasn't just being professional-he was trying to protect himself, too. She didn't know what from, but she could see it in the way his jaw tightened, the way his fists clenched at his sides.

"Fine," she said finally, her voice soft. "If that's how you feel."

Cedric nodded, though he didn't look relieved. "I'll give you some space," he said, grabbing his jacket from the floor. "Take the day off. You deserve it."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Billie alone with her thoughts and the memory of a night she wasn't sure she regretted.