And now, without so much as an air-clearing chat (I was so awkward earlier, he must’ve noticed) Freddie is going to be literally holding me.

‘Okay, I’ll just pick you up in front of me, wrap your legs around my waist and your arms around my neck, got it?’

‘Are you sure that’s the best way?’ I ask, but as the whistle blows and it’s time to go, I do exactly as Freddie says.

In a split second, I’m in his arms, clinging onto his neck, my legs locked around his waist. It all happens in a heartbeat; as I move into position I feel my dress roll up my thighs and sit pretty around my waist. I know, without looking, that my arse is exposed – thank God I put knickers on!

‘Is that okay?’ I ask Freddie. ‘Shit, I think everyone can see my knickers.’

‘Well, I can’t see, so not everyone can,’ he jokingly reassures me. ‘At least you have knickers on.’

I do… but they’re massive. I’m sure that should be better, because bigger knickers equal more coverage, but they’re so unsexy that it might even be more embarrassing than if I didn’t have any on at all.

‘We’ve got this in the bag. I can hold this position all night,’ Freddie tells me.

‘That’ll be your Edge of Eden training,’ I reply.

‘You mean from the gym, to get the physique Edward is supposed to have, or from filming sex scenes for hours and hours at a time?’

‘All right, show-off.’ I laugh. ‘Does it matter which?’

‘I suppose not,’ he replies.

I glance over at Daniel and Eva. Daniel might not be all that strong, but Eva is basically weightless. I, on the other hand, wish I hadn’t eaten so much while I’ve been here. I’m already much taller than her, with a bigger frame, so I’m bound to be heavier, even without the carb-binge I’ve been on recently. Everyone indulges on holiday though, right? It’s not usually a consideration, that you’ll need to be light for a competition.

‘Hold on tight,’ he says. ‘I’ll pull your dress down.’

‘Can you do that?’ I ask. ‘Without dropping me?’

I look around at the other couples. Some of them are really struggling already.

‘Are you worried about me dropping you or us losing the competition?’ he replies with a knowing smile.

‘Is it okay if it’s both?’

When Freddie smiles his dimples deepen and his eyes twinkle. Wrapped around his body like this, with him holding me so tightly, we couldn’t be closer if we tried. There’s an awkwardness that comes with being so in someone’s face. We’re not usually forced to look each other in the eye – with near-constant eye contact – from nothing more than a couple of inches away. This discomfort doesn’t just come from being in such intimate proximity though – the sweltering evening heat isn’t helping. Where my arms are touching each other they are slick with sweat, which is making it harder for me to hold out. Thankfully Freddie has this covered and with one swift arm movement my modesty (as if I even have any at this point) is restored.