Rita shook her head quickly, not wanting to make Jefferson feel awkward.
"Nah, just curious if it's gonna be just you and me for dinner," she said casually.
Jefferson paused for a beat before answering, "You know, it's been ages since we had a meal, just the two of us. I kinda like that idea."
"Okay, cool. See you later then. I'm gonna skip the ride today 'cause I've got plans to meet Emma outside work," Rita mentioned, making her own way.
"Alright, catch you later," Jefferson replied.
Once he was alone in his car, he watched Neo driving carefully.
He'd been thinking about asking Neo to pick out a nice restaurant for the dinner.
But after Rita's question, he figured maybe he should be the one to choose the place, to show he cared.
He decided not to bother Neo with it.
He mused to himself, "Looks like Rita's starting to lean on me a bit, huh? Gotta tread carefully. Don't wanna break her heart if I don't feel the same way. She's a bit dull to me at times, but she's a decent person. Can't just let her down hard."
Jefferson was kinda distracted all day, wondering if Rita was gonna spill her feelings tonight and how he should handle it if she did.
When dinner time rolled around, they headed straight to a fancy Western restaurant that was a fair distance from their office.
Jefferson thought it might be a formal affair, so he took extra care with his outfit before heading out.
Rita, on the other hand, didn't bother with makeup or fancy clothes.
She was taken aback by the upscale place Jefferson had chosen.
"Eh, it's no biggie. Considering the help I've given him, this is small potatoes. Plus, the guy's loaded. Dropping cash on a posh dinner is nothing to him," she reassured herself, feeling a bit more at ease.
While they were looking over the menu, Ms. White, the manager, spotted Jefferson from across the room. He was a familiar face around here, but today he had brought a woman with him! Ms. White's heart sank a little—she'd been quietly crushing on this handsome regular, and seeing him on what looked like a date was a shock. But as she watched them, she noticed they didn't really act like a couple. Maybe there was still hope?
Curiosity getting the better of her, Ms. White grabbed a bottle of whiskey and strutted over to their table, hoping to suss out the situation. "Hey there, Mr. Ted, good to see you again!" she greeted Jefferson with a smile. "We've got a little tradition for our regulars. This bottle of whiskey is on the house, but there's a catch. You gotta write down something you can't say out loud to your friend here—this lady—and we'll sneak the message to her later. How 'bout it?"
Jefferson was clearly not amused. "Nah, I'm not into that. Just let us be, okay?" he said, a bit annoyed.
Ms. White's eyes lit up with a mix of hope and mischief. "Oh, so she's not your girlfriend? Your sister, maybe?" she asked, barely hiding her grin.
"What's it to you? Keep this up, and I'm gonna have to complain," Jefferson warned, his patience wearing thin.
"I'm really sorry," Ms. White mumbled, her confidence deflating. She quickly retreated with the bottle in tow.
Rita watched Ms. White's retreat, thinking to herself, "Wow, Jefferson just shut down that pretty manager. I'm now totally convinced—Jefferson Ted must be gay! He's not into women at all!"
Feeling a twinge of sympathy for Ms. White, Rita decided to order the whiskey anyway, maybe to soften the blow.
But she didn't realize her own limits. After a few glasses, she was clearly tipsy.
Jefferson, on the other hand, was stone-cold sober.
He'd been on edge all evening, waiting for Rita to spill her guts about her feelings. But as the night wore on and she didn't say a word about any crush, he couldn't help but feel a little let down.
Jefferson gently guided a staggering Rita towards his car, her steps unsteady from the whiskey she had underestimated. His arm was firmly around her waist, providing the support she needed to stay upright. As he carefully settled her into the passenger seat, he could hear her slurred words barely above a whisper, "You're really nice. But you are..." Her voice faded into a soft sigh, and she slumped against the seat, her sentence hanging unfinished in the air.
Confused and concerned, Jefferson shook his head slightly, dismissing the urge to ask what she meant. He figured it was the alcohol speaking, and she probably needed rest more than a conversation. He closed the door gently, walked around to the driver's side, and started the car, the quiet hum of the engine filling the silence between them.
The drive was short, and the night was quiet as he pulled up to Rita's house. He got out and walked around to help her out of the car. With one arm supporting her back and the other beneath her knees, he lifted her with ease. As he carried her to the front door, her head lolled against his shoulder, and her breath was warm on his neck.
Just as they reached the doorstep, Rita's head suddenly lifted. In a moment of drunken spontaneity, her lips found Jefferson's cheek, leaving a soft, unintentional kiss. Jefferson's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, a mixture of surprise and embarrassment warming his face.
Rita pulled back slightly, her eyes half-closed, and in a voice tinged with whiskey and wistfulness, she murmured, "If you weren't gay, what would happen between us?"
Jefferson stood there, utterly taken aback by Rita's murmured confession. Her words sparked a mix of confusion and concern, and he couldn't help but voice his bewilderment. "Hold on, do you actually think I'm gay?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light but insistent, needing to clear up the misunderstanding.
Rita's eyes, swimming with a cocktail of emotions and alcohol, suddenly brimmed with tears. She felt a rush of unfairness wash over her, and her words spilled out in a mix of sobs and sniffles. "You should've just told me the truth," she said, her voice thick with hurt. "I would've helped you, you know? Even if I knew... I mean, even if it was true."
She hiccupped slightly, trying to compose herself, as she continued, "You're a good guy, Jefferson. I was ready to be your friend, even though you... even though you're into Neo."
Jefferson couldn't help but burst into laughter, the absurdity of the situation cutting through the tension. He covered her mouth gently with his hand, shaking his head in disbelief. "You think I'm in love with my assistant?" he chuckled, finding the idea preposterous.
Rita, who hadn't let herself lose control like this in over three years, suddenly felt a surge of her old, bold self returning.
She looked up at Jefferson, a playful glint in her eyes despite the tears, and puckered her lips to plant a kiss right on his palm.