Chapter 14

The rest of the week was a blur. On The following Monday, Ralph pulled Christie aside at lunch.

"Christie, would you like to go out sometime?" He asked her without preamble. Christie didn't know what to say, but she heard Meg's voice in her head, telling her to give him a chance.

"Sure, when?" She responded, forcing a smile.

"How about today, after work?" He asked.

"That sounds ok." She was uncertain if she was doing the right thing, but it couldn't hurt to go out once.

After work, Ralph caught up with her.

"Ready to go?" He asked. She nodded. Ralph got a cab and it was waiting for them when they walked out. They got in and the driver headed east, towards the water. They finally pulled up at a fancy looking pier.

"Where are you taking me?" Christie asked, intrigued.

"I thought we could have breakfast and watch the sunrise out on the water." He said, laying on the charm. Christie blinked.

"Wow, I had no idea that you had a boat."

"Technically it's the family yacht." He said as he led her down the pier towards an expensive looking white sailboat. There were two guys there, getting the boat ready in the darkness. Ralph and Christie put on lifejackets and the two men sailed the boat into the open ocean. Ralph led Christie below decks, where a breakfast was laid out for them.

"This is very elaborate…" Christie said in surprise. Ralph just smiled.

"Shall we?" He said and sat down. They ate and talked a bit, the food was good, but not as good as Erik's cooking Christie thought sadly. They talked mostly about work and Ralph told her about himself. After a while, they went back up into the chilly morning air. Christie enjoyed the motion of the boat and was glad that it hadn't made her seasick. The sky above them turned a light purple and then began to get brighter. The water was calm, but the sky was beginning to get cloudy and there was a steady breeze. Ralph put his arm around Christie.

"I'm really glad you said yes." He smiled down at her. 'He really is rather handsome.' Christie thought as she returned his smile. After a few minutes Ralph turned to the two sailors. "Let's head back. This weather isn't looking too good." As they headed back for shore, Christie took deep breaths of the crisp, salty air. She didn't get out much, but she loved the sea and the open air feeling of being on the water.

"Thanks for taking me out there." She told him as he dropped her off at her apartment.

"It was pretty amazing… mostly because you were there." He said confidently. She laughed nervously and he stepped closer to her and leaned down to kiss her. She turned her head and stepped back. He tried to close the distance between them, but she put her hands up to his chest and pushed away softly.

"Listen, I had a good time, but I don't want to move too fast…" Christie whispered, feeling awkward.

"Alright, sure… so, when can I see you again?" He asked.

"Text me and we will set something up." She said and gave him her number. He left in a cab and she went upstairs. She had a few missed calls from Meg, who had seen them leave together. She called her back and told her everything that happened. Meg was more excited than Christie was about it and she asked a million questions. Christie answered them and they talked for a while before Christie began to yawn, she told Meg that she would see her tomorrow and hung up.

The next day when she ate lunch with Meg and Ralph, she would glance nervously at the camera in the corner of the room every time Ralph would talk to her. She felt like she was breaking a rule.

'He probably wasn't even watching.' She thought later at her desk.

They all had received an email about the annual company costume party for Halloween in a few weeks and everyone was talking about it. On her way home, she thought about costume options, she had never been very big on dressing up, last year she hadn't even gone to the party. She wanted to go this year though. When she got home, Ralph texted her and asked her out for Thursday. He wanted to have her over for dinner and a movie.

When she went, he was very gentlemanly. They watched the newest Star Wars movie. He did put his arm around her again though. He asked her out again for that Saturday and they went to a concert and got pizza after. He held her hand as they walked to the pizza place and all Christie could think was how she wished it was Erik holding her hand.

The next week, she went shopping with Meg for a costume. Meg ended up buying a "Sexy" angel costume and Christie decided to be a princess, she splurged on an old-fashioned pink ball gown, elbow length white gloves and a sparkly tiara.

As much as she got along with Ralph, she just couldn't stop thinking about Erik. When Ralph asked her to the company party, she pulled him aside near the front doors.

"Listen Ralph, the last few weeks have been really fun, but I have to be honest with you." She took a deep breath. "I don't think I'm ready for a relationship right now… I'm kind of getting over someone, and it's not fair to you if I can't be with you a hundred percent… I hope we can be friends still, and I really think you deserve someone awesome." He was silent until she finished.

"I don't want things to be over between us… I can wait as long as you need." He said, his voice taking on an air of desperation.

"I don't think my feelings for you are going to change over any amount of time." Christie said awkwardly.

"Please, I really like you and I want to see where this goes. Just give me a chance." He said and boldly grabbed her shoulders. Christie felt flustered and pushed him away, she turned towards the doors.

"I have to get home." She said and went outside. He called after her but didn't follow.

The next day at work, Ralph didn't try to talk to her, but he wouldn't stop staring at her. At lunch she sat with Meg and Ralph sat with Sylvia and Tatiana, flirting shamelessly with both of them, in some misguided attempt to make her jealous. She just rolled her eyes to Meg and ignored him. After work, Meg came over and gave her some hair and makeup tips for the party the next day. Christie had actually bought some makeup and had worn it on a few of her dates with Ralph. Meg had been disappointed when she told her that she had called things off with Ralph.

"At least you gave it a try." She said as she painted Christie's toenails pink. Christie sighed dramatically, causing them both to laugh. "Still thinking about Erik?" Meg asked.

"I've been trying to force myself not to… but I miss him… I can't help it. I feel him, in my heart… Is that weird?" She asked Meg, who smiled.

"NO, once you have that feeling with someone it doesn't just go away overnight. I'm glad that you at least gave moving on a try… But if you really can't get over Erik, you should tell him… It might change his mind; he ended things so abruptly… he must miss you too."

"I don't know if I can tell him how I feel after everything he said… I just couldn't bear it if he rejected me again, at least like this I know where we stand." Christie sighed again and looked sadly at her toes. "At least my feet look good." She said, making them both laugh again.