I stole a glance at him. He was switching lanes on the interstate, going into the passing lane as he started to accelerate.
"It's my question, right?" I asked.
"Yeah." Tyler seemed distracted. Maybe he was just concentrating on the road.
"Why did you break up with your girlfriend?"
He thought about it for a minute. "Because I wasn't in love with her," he finally said.
"How are you so sure? Love is rather complicated. Maybe you just didn't give it enough time."
"No, I'm sure."
"How?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Because I was in love with someone else." He hit his turn signal again and sped by someone who was probably already going over the speed limit.
"Is that who you're driving toward? Does the girl you actually love live in California?" Suddenly it felt like I had just been transported into a romantic comedy. I was part of an epic love chase.
He laughed. It sounded strangled. "No."
"Why aren't you going to her? This could be your chance at true love."
"It's complicated."
"But..."
"As far as I'm concerned, true love doesn't exist. Look, I really don't want to talk about this. And haven't you asked like five questions in a row?"
"Okay, then ask me one."
He shook his head. "What's your favorite color?" He clearly wanted to go back to simple questions.
"Actually, it's quite the coincidence. Mine's green too. So, where does the girl you do love live?"
"Pass."
"But maybe that's where you should be driving, Tyler."
"Trust me, it's not."
"Why?"
"Please stop pushing this."
"You have to tell her how you feel. You don't want to go through your whole life regretting this missed opportunity."
"I did tell her, okay?! Happy?" He pulled back into the passing lane again.
His tone sent goose bumps up my arms. I bit my lip. So, maybe it wasn't a romantic comedy. Maybe it was more like a Shakespearean tragedy. "I'm sorry."
"Great. Thanks for your pity."
"I didn't say I pitied you."
"Can you please just stop talking for five seconds?" He hit the button to turn the radio on with his fist. Rap music blared through the car.
Whatever he was going through, I knew he'd feel better if he got it off his chest. But I wasn't going to force it. He'd tell me when he was ready.
