Freddie gives me another meaningful squeeze. As he releases me I notice both Daniel and Eva staring down at my body. I look down to see that my robe has opened, and my sexy white lingerie is on show. I quickly tighten my belt.

‘Who are you?’ Daniel asks him, unable to hide his jealousy.

‘Great to meet you, buddy, I’m Freddie,’ he says.

‘You’re Freddie Bianchi,’ Eva says, stunned.

How the bloody hell does Eva know his name? Has she tried to shag him too?

‘That’s me,’ he replies.

‘Who?’ Daniel asks, even angrier now that it appears Eva knows him.

Freddie Bianchi, I’m sure I know that name, he’s…

‘I’m such a big fan,’ Eva tells him. ‘Huge!’

‘Who the hell is he?’ Daniel asks her.

‘Freddie Bianchi,’ she says, as though the repetition of his name will trigger something in his head. ‘You know, from the Edge of Eden movie.’

Oh, my God. That’s who he is!

Edge of Eden was the first book in a series of erotic novels that absolutely exploded – so much so they made a movie of the first one. I haven’t read the books or seen the movie, but I vaguely recall seeing a movie poster of a small blonde woman and a towering, muscular hunk of a man standing over her. I seem to think he looked a bit different on the posters, as if his hair was darker, or slicked back, or both…

‘Yeah, that’s me,’ he says with an awkward laugh.

‘What are you doing here?’ Eva asks him.

‘Lila and I met on the plane,’ he tells them. ‘I don’t know what it was but we just fell for each other. Couldn’t keep our hands off each other, could we?’

Suddenly something dawns on me… Freddie is acting. I imagine my nosey neighbour was outside and overheard our conversation. I told him all about Daniel yesterday so, if he was listening, he’d know how truly mortifying this moment was for me, before he stepped in. Is he really doing this just so I can save face?

‘We couldn’t,’ I reply.

‘We still can’t,’ Freddie says. He stands behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. As he buries his face in my neck, I can’t help but marvel at what a great actor he must be. Even I believe him, and I know it’s not true. ‘So, introduce me to your friends, beautiful.’

‘Well, this is my dear friend, Eva,’ I tell him. Suddenly, I’ve found my confidence. I’m not an emotional wreck, on the verge of tears. I’m cool, calm, and rubbing every last bit of it into their faces. ‘And this is Daniel.’

‘Her fiancé,’ Daniel says.

‘Ex-fiancé,’ I correct him. ‘We had some issues.’

‘Oh, this is your ex,’ Freddie says. ‘I’ve heard all about you, buddy.’

Daniel begins to pace. On his fourth length of the room, he notices the dildo on the table.

‘What the…?’

‘Babe, you need to see the movie,’ Eva tells him enthusiastically, by way of an explanation.