“Ah. No. That was fun. I didn’t call the last couple nights because . . . I was busy with something else.”

“. . . You’re just gonna let that dangle out there like that? You’re not going to tell me what you were busy with?”

“I promised you I wouldn’t mention it.”

“Huh?”

“I’m saving you a panic attack.”

“What? Oh! Oh, my God. You didn’t call me the last few nights because you were busy reading my webcomic?”

“Bingo.”

“Jeez. You mean to tell me I was getting cockblocked by my own artwork?”

“I—”

“Never mind. Strike that from the record. I didn’t say that. I don’t say things like that. Just forget it. God. Okay, well, what’d you think about the comic?”

“It’s good.”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”

“I like it.”

“JD. I like you, but you’re the absolute worst.”

“What? What do you want me to say?”

“You’re literally the only person in my life who knows I do this. Come on! Gas me up a little bit!”

“Okay. Um. You’re good at making webcomics, Eliot.”

“Wow. I’ve never felt so proud of myself before.”

“If you want compliments, just read the comments section! People there can’t wait to tell you you’re a genius. What do you need me for?”

“Obviously your opinion matters to me more than anonymous internet readers.”

“Well, I like the comic. What more do you want from me?”

“Nothing, nothing. I know you’re not the most effusive person in the world. I’ll just pretend you gave it a glowing review.”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“So, like, what happens with Shaker after that cliffhanger? Does she make it back to her own world or . . .?”

“Oh. MY. GAWD.”

“What?”

“You little scamp! You’re not calling to check in with me about my life. You’re calling to try and squeeze some spoilers out of me!”

“What? No way.”

“So, I was wrong? You just happened to bring up that cliffhanger in casual conversation? You couldn’t care less what happens to Shaker?”

“I . . . okay, FINE. I’m totally obsessed with your stupid addictive webcomic and I’m freaking DYING to know what happens next and if you strand Shaker in that dumbass reverse universe I swear to God I’ll strangle you myself.”

“HAHAHAHAAAAAA YESSSSSSSSS. This is officially the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

“Spill your secrets!”

“No way! You think I’d just tell you?”

“Eliot! Come on! I’ve done basically nothing but read this webcomic for eighty hours straight and I get to the last page and my favorite character might end up trapped in an alternate universe for all eternity? Which would be fine, if Hertzog were there with her and then they could just start their life afresh in a new place and I wouldn’t care. But Hertzog is off doing that stupid boot camp for psychics thing—”