“Wait!” He grabs it. “Buddha wants to tell me something.” He holds him to his ear and pretends to listen. His eyes slide to my lips then he shakes his head and talks to Buddha again. “Sorry, man, what’d you say? I was distracted.”  He glances at me and grins, then nods, Buddha still at his ear. “Yeah, I totally agree. I don’t get it, either and I’ll tell her, but you’re crazy for thinking she’ll listen to me.” He rolls his eyes and drops Buddha in his jacket pocket, sighing loudly. “Sooo … he says you should stop making out with Face Eater if he’s really not your boyfriend. And if he is your boyfriend, you should break up with him.”

I narrow my eyes and he holds up his hands. “Just the messenger.”  Grabbing the ladder handles, he backs down it, disappearing into the alley.