Rita had downed quite a few drinks.
Club owner Ray spotted her and soon realized who she was.
She had dropped big bucks there three years back.
Ray walked up to Rita, surprised and happy. "Hey, why haven't you come to see your old buddy for so long? I've missed you!"
Everything clicked for Rita, and she blurted out, "Ray! Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! But I promise, I never forgot you, my old friend!"
Jefferson felt a bit weird seeing Rita and Ray so chummy, but he kept his cool.
Rita didn't bother introducing them and beelined for the ladies' room.
She wanted to feel like her old self again.
In front of the mirror, she joked to herself, "You're such a snooze-fest."
She chuckled and started applying her makeup, going for the smoky eyes look she used to rock back in the day.
Jefferson was getting worried; Rita had been in the restroom a while, and she wasn't exactly clear-headed.
He waited right outside the ladies', ignoring the weird looks he got.
A girl came out, stopped in her tracks at the sight of Jefferson.
"Hey, handsome, you here by yourself?" she flirted.
Before Jefferson could answer, Rita burst out, shoving the girl aside.
"What do you think you're doing with my man?" she snapped.
The girl was taken aback by Rita's bold look.
"Chill out, crazy lady!" she said, and quickly walked away.
Jefferson felt a warm rush when Rita called him her man.
But seeing her makeup, he almost laughed.
"Your eyes...?" he started, trying to keep a straight face.
Rita beamed. "Recognize this look? I used to wear it all the time!"
"Yeah, it's... wow, it's something else!" Jefferson fibbed, not wanting to rain on her parade since he was the one who'd nudged her to rediscover herself.
Rita was thrilled with the compliment and headed back to the dance floor, with Jefferson acting like her personal bodyguard nearby.
Suddenly, Rita stopped. "Oh wait, I think I forgot something!" she exclaimed.
Rita's heart raced with a mix of nervousness and excitement as she tapped her phone, her finger hovering over Ester's contact.
It had been ages since she'd stepped foot in a club, let alone invited Ester to one.
The call connected, and Ester's voice crackled through the speaker, laced with disbelief. "You're where? The club? Are you pulling my leg, or did you actually decide to turn back the clock three whole years?" she asked, her voice rising with each word.
Rita could almost see Ester's wide eyes through the phone.
"I know, I know, it's crazy. But I'm feeling it tonight, Ester. I want you here with me," Rita urged, her voice a mix of a plea and a command.
Ester's response was immediate, her excitement palpable even through the static.
"Give me 10 minutes, and I'll be there!" she promised, already on the move.
True to her word, Ester burst into the club, her eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Rita-and the man by her side.
"My goodness, Rita, you didn't tell me you were with someone... and Jefferson, no less! The magazines don't do you justice. You're way hotter in person!"
Ester exclaimed, her gaze flitting between Rita and the man who was her new husband.
Rita's smile widened at Ester's approval.
"I know, right?"
Ester, ever the life of the party, whipped out the gift she'd been carrying.
"I got you something, a little celebration gift for tonight!" she announced, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Rita took the gift, a beautifully wrapped box tied with a shimmering bow.
The anticipation in the air was thick as she carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Her eyes widened, and a hot flush crept up her neck as she stared at the array of condoms nestled inside the box-ribbed, flavored, glow-in-the-dark, you name it.
Ester burst into laughter at Rita's expression, clapping her hands together.
"I thought you'd appreciate a little variety, you know, to spice things up!"
Jefferson, ever the gentleman, chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Well, Ester, thank you for your... thoughtful gift," he said, his voice smooth as silk.
Rita, caught between embarrassment and laughter, could only manage a sheepish smile.
"Ester, you're too much," she managed to say, her cheeks still flushed with a rosy hue.
Ester, unphased by the awkward moment, raised her glass. "To Rita and Jefferson-may your nights be as adventurous as your days!" she toasted, winking at them both.
Jefferson raised his glass in response, a warm smile on his face.
"Thank you, Ester. We're happy to have you celebrate with us."
As Rita's glass count ticked higher, she started to slip back into her fiery, vivacious alter ego from years past.
The music, the lights, and the buzz of the crowd seemed to fuel her transformation.
She turned to Jefferson, her eyes sparkling with a challenge. "You're not gonna let me drink all alone, are you?" she playfully prodded, nudging a glass closer to him with a sly smile.
Jefferson, ever the voice of reason, held up his hands in a sign of surrender but with a smile that betrayed his amusement. "Someone's gotta make sure we get back in one piece," he said, his tone light but firm.
But Rita wasn't having any of it. "Just one beer, for me?" she coaxed.
Then she planted a kiss on his cheek, leaving a lipstick mark as a token of her affection.
Her laughter rang out, infectious and carefree.
Unbeknownst to the couple, a group of reporters was also out enjoying the night in the same club.
When they caught sight of Jefferson, their eyes lit up with the thrill of a potential scoop.
"Is that really him?" one reporter hissed to another, disbelief mingling with the thrill of the chase.
"Definitely. This is going to be huge!" another replied, barely containing a grin.
They tried to stay cool, but the excitement was palpable as they nudged each other and pointed in his direction, their phones already in hand to capture the moment.