“It means we’re going to put everything that was in Paisley’s car in your car, stuff it to the roof, and you two are driving up together.”

Paisley stiffened beside Heath, and I had to wonder if she had known that this was going to be the outcome.

I ran my hands through my hair. “Are we going to be able to fit every single thing that you guys need for your entire lives in just one car?” I asked, my voice only a little bitter.

Heath just raised a brow. “Yes. We’ll make it work, but it might make things…sticky.” He was doing his best not to point out the fact that neither my ex nor I wanted to deal with a long car ride together, but it seemed we didn’t have a choice.

“So why did we need two separate cars to begin with?” I asked, and Paisley just gave me a look.

And then I got it. I was supposed to be bringing Dakota, while Paisley brought her husband. So now, somehow, the two of us were the two single people on this family trip. Therefore, we could fit into one car.

“So we’re just going to leave your car here?” I asked instead, not waiting on an answer to my previous question that I clearly didn’t need, and Paisley nodded.

“It’s not a big deal. I should be able to fit my bags amongst the cars. And on the way there, I’ll get some work done.” She raised her brow. “If you don’t mind driving.”

There was an odd tension in the air, and Heath just looked between us, his gaze darting at our volleys.

“I have shit to grade too. Books I need to read for the next curriculum. But sure, you can work.” I didn’t know why I was making a big deal about this. I didn’t want to sound like an asshole. Ostensibly, it came naturally.

Paisley sighed, her shoulders dropping. I could have kicked myself, but then I saw the gleam in her eyes. “No, no, no. We can take turns. Anytime that there’s a rest stop we’ll just jump out while the car’s running and pretend that it’s not insane.”

Heath cursed under his breath. “Okay, okay, I love this whole bickering thing, but I thought you guys were over it. It’s going to be a long fucking trip if you guys don’t stop it.”

“Language!” Devney called out as she strapped Hayleigh into her car seat.

My twin pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’re heading out in a few, come on, let’s go stuff the bags inside. The kids are already getting strapped in, meaning we are going to be late.” Heath wandered off then, and I gave Paisley a look.

“You ready for this?”

Paisley shrugged before giving me an odd look. “Never. I can drive though. If you truly have work to do. I’m sorry, I just assumed you wanted to drive because you always do…or rather, did.”

“It’s fine.” I shook my head, then let out a sigh, finally relaxing a bit. “I got most of it done already. The couple of hours drive up to the mountains isn’t going to be a big issue. And it’s not like I was planning on grading in the car. I’m sorry. I’m in a mood.”

Her lips twitched. “I’ve been in a mood for a while now. But at least I get to ignore the phone calls while on the road, right?” At that moment, her phone buzzed, and she cringed when she looked down at the readout.

“Who is it?”

“The Dallas Star.”

“Why would the Dallas Star be calling you? We live in Colorado.”

“Jacob’s family has business ties there, so evidently, they want an exclusive interview. Not that anyone’s getting an exclusive interview.”

I cleared my throat. “I didn’t realize divorcing Jacob was going to be such a big issue. I mean…press-wise.” I needed to take a few lessons in not being an idiot.

She gave another one-armed shrug. “It’s just going to get worse.” I frowned at her, and she shook her head. “No, I’m not going to dwell on it right now. We have an entire car ride to do that. Come on, the kids are waiting. And we need to empty my car.”

I nodded tightly, and I went to move her bags to my vehicle. She didn’t have that much, and I figured the only reason we had decided to bring an extra car was so the two of us wouldn’t be forced to be in the same car.

And while we could have figured out a way to swap vehicles to the point that I wouldn’t have to ride with Paisley, I wasn’t about to break up family time for my siblings just because I was forced to drive in a car with my ex-wife.

Soon we were on the road, with me trailing behind the others since Heath liked to be in front, and we had to make sure Luca didn’t get left behind because the guy got distracted about everything on the side of the road, and then we were in the quiet, without music or podcasts, as Paisley went to work on her laptop in the passenger seat.

“You can play something. Or listen to a book. I promise I can pay attention to more than one thing.”

“I didn’t want to bother you,” I bit out.

“I just have a few details on this contract to work through. I don’t plan on working this entire trip. I don’t want to work at all, but things got a little behind with the wave of press and with the sale of the company.”