Whaaa?

I pass a coworker in the hallway on my way to the bathroom. I don't know him well, he's an older tech who works in the creepy equipment graveyard.
This is what I heard, not what he said:
"Hot bass?"
me: "huh?"
"Hop ass?"
me: "Allllllright!"
him: "I was wondering what your response would be..."

I know now, after having mulled it over, he was saying "Hall pass?". Is English my first language? Yes.