"How old do you think I am?" Rikki asked, laughing. She would be young to be co-owning a business, sure, if she'd been the one who had tried to open it in the first place. It was Zane's money that had bought the place after the Juicenet closed. Then he'd tried to give it to her and they'd agreed on the partnership. Besides, Ben couldn't be more than a couple of years older than her, from the looks of him.

It sounded like a sad sort of existence to her. Not that Rikki had any siblings for a direct frame of reference, but she couldn't imagine continuing to exist and only being able to talk to Cleo or Bella, but never both of them. There had to be another way. It couldn't be as simple as leaving would reverse what had happened to him, could it?

She startled a little at the echoing sound of disembodied childish giggles. ...she had to be hearing things. That wasn't happening and she was going to ignore it unless Ben said otherwise. Instead, she watched the door as Ben started to pick up speed. "I am," she agreed, adjusting her hold around his chest to keep herself steady as he started to move faster. "I'm watching it. ...'s not moving...it's not getting any closer... How is that...?"

Rikki looked down at the carpet, still wet, and groaned with frustration. If it weren't so wet, he wouldn't have to carry her, and they could just run.