"You are upset that I moved on? Jake! You cheated on me. That's why we broke up! You moved on. I waited until after you died! Or so I thought you died!" I exclaim. Alex paces behind me.
      "You found yourself a man right after I died. How insensitive are you? Does he even know I existed?" Jake yells back.
       "Jake..." I sigh.
       "Do you? Do you even know I lived? Did you know she still loved me?" Jake questions at Alex. Alex doesn't answer but asks me a question instead.
       "Do you still love him?" His question drags out in my mind because when I told Alex I loved him, I thought I was over Jake. But, seeing him in person, I realize that I'm not. I'm not sure I ever will be.
        "I don't know," I say. Now, it's time for Jake's question.
        "Do you love him?" Now, that, I had a real answer for. I do love Alex. I'm not sure if I love him more than I love Jake, but I do love him.
         "Yes," I say, quietly. Jake scoffs, almost offended.
"Well, looks like we get to spend the next six hours figuring out if you love me because we're sitting on a plane next to each other."

I agree to take the window seat in hopes to distract myself. Jake can't be alive. He just can't. My dreams were crushed when I discover that I'm the middle seat. Next to me—in the window seat—is a forty-something-year-old woman. Jake gets the aisle. After the safety demonstration and take off, Jake turns to me.

"So, what's new?" He asks, nonchalantly, as if everything is completely normal.
"Oh, you know, found out my ex-boyfriend actually isn't dead and now I get to spend 10 days with him and my current boyfriend. Otherwise, not much. How about you?" I scoffed.
"Well, I was just released from a kidnapper to find you dating another dude. So, yeah, same old, same old." He mutters.

The middle-aged woman lets out a gasp, "I'm a marriage counselor, I'm sure I can help you." I look over to Jake.
       "It's a long story." He says.
       "It's a long flight. I'm Jane," the woman responds.
        "It's nice to meet you. I'm Ruby, that's Jake." I say while Jake nods.
       "So, tell me this 'long' story..." She says.

       Jake begins with the first murder. She's horrified, her daughter lives in Essie. Jake continue until his "death". That's when I take over. I explain the Alex situation and the clues.
       "Well, that's the most interesting story I've ever had to hear," she mutters. "So, I'm not sure how to begin. Let's start with other guys. Are you two still together?" She asks.
       "Yes," I answer.
       "Okay, does he know Jake is alive?" She asks.
       "I do," Alex says from the seat behind us.
       "Oh, I get to hear all three sides. This'll be fun." She squeals, legitimately excited. She has Alex and Jake tells their full stories and asks us plenty of questions.
        "Darling, it appears that it is truly your choice, but I do have an educated suggestion for you if you want it," she concludes.
        "Sure, I'll see it," I say. She leans closer and whispers a name in my ear.
        "Why him?" I ask.
        "It has nothing to do with your story, but I can sense the connection between you two. When I don't sense a connection between a couple, I give them a divorce lawyer contact. You see, I feel a connection between you and well, you know who, but I don't sense a connection between you and the other man." She explains. I think she's right. I mean, I do feel a greater connection to one, more than other.

I ultimately decide to spend my vacation choosing. Alex has four days, Jake has four days. On the last day I'll make my choice, today I'll just relax. I also agree to spend half the nights with each of them.

The necessity for this is apparent when we discover one king bed and a pullout sofa. Jake claims the sofa for the night, letting Alex and I have the bed. I lie down on the bed and tuck myself in, it's late already. It's been a long day. I lie close to the center, so does Alex. He pulls me to him, tucking my head under his neck. I feel my eyes start to water, the first tear falls. Alex gives me a squeeze, but I'm just thankful for him to be there. I hear Jake snore, so I look up and press my mouth to Alex's.
       "I love you," Alex says.
       "I love you too," I respond.

        The next morning is Jake's day. At 10 am, Jake wakes me up to get ready. It's high tide and we're going surfing. Something I'd never do with Alex.

     Jake and Alex have completely opposite personalities. Jake is a daredevil, he's fun loving, lives with no regrets and he's a player. Alex likes to play it safe, worries a lot, is very focused on big dreams and he's a hopeless romantic. Alex is husband and father material, but Jake is just so much more fun. They are both protective, attractive, and totally into me, but just about everything else is different.

       Once I'm dressed, he takes me out to the ocean. The sun is still rising, making the perfect setting. Jake grabs two surfboards from a rack and shows me how to surf. I stand on a green surfboard, but we're still on the sand. He stands behind me, awfully close, and shows me how to move. He keeps his head next to my neck, sending wonderful chills down my neck. I want to turn around and make out with him. I don't. He has his hands on my hips showing me the movement, but it seems—it is—a lot more sexual than that. He steps back and has me follow him into the water. Jake is a surfing king, he doesn't fall off once. I can't last 3 seconds. He picks me up, every time anyway.

After almost an hour, we decide to get out. I still wasn't getting the hang of it, but that's not the point. He grabs my hand and leads me to a smoothie station. We order our smoothies before realizing Alex is here too. I grab my smoothie and focus on Jake, that's why I'm here. I suppose.