On the other hand, the thing that I wasn’t so sure about with Daniel was his lack of explicit emotion. It took me a little while to realise we were actually dating. At first things seemed way more casual, with Daniel not exactly showing his affectionate side. I had to make the first move when it came to our first kiss – and when it came to the first time we had sex, weeks later, which was slower than you’d expect from your average male. Eventually, he did say his feelings out loud for me, but that touchy-feely, tactile side of things I usually love in a relationship never came. But that was Daniel. I figured he was just the silent type – your stereotypical northerner, not really wearing his heart on his sleeve.

So, I suppose, with Daniel never really being a fan of the mushy stuff, I knew that coming here was only going to be so romantic. I think I hoped that being on Valentine Island would bring out a bit more of his mushy side, but I knew at the back of my mind that I wouldn’t get him to do anything like this.

I suppose, with that in mind, even if the wedding had gone ahead, I wouldn’t actually have had anyone to do this stuff with and I’d be in the same position as I am now. And with a hubby in tow, there would have been no way I could’ve struck a deal with Freddie to coast through the holiday as a friendship couple.

Suddenly, I feel a little less stressed. Just as the massage ends.

The masseur and masseuse excuse themselves, so that Freddie and I can put our clothes back on.

‘Well, that was weird, wasn’t it?’ he jokes, still lying face down on the table.

I make no attempt to move either.

‘Just a bit,’ I say. ‘I didn’t realise just how couply a couple’s massage would be.’

‘Well, now we know.’

‘Now we know,’ I reply, returning his smile.

‘Would you like to get up first or second?’ he asks.

‘Hmm, first,’ I say, unable to see a reason for either, other than getting my clothes back on as soon as possible.

Freddie buries his face deep in the cushion, so that I have as much privacy as possible. I hurry on my bikini, my jean shorts and my white Hollister crop top.

‘Done,’ I say as I let my bun down, allowing my long hair to fall around my face.

‘That was fast,’ he replies.

‘Yeah, I learnt my lesson from earlier, when they walked in on us trying to hide behind towels.’

‘I’ll be quick, then,’ he replies.

I dutifully turn around while Freddie gets dressed.

Facing the sideboard, where all the lotions are kept, I admire the candles sitting on top. In addition to the relaxing flicker of light coming from them, there’s an absolutely delicious smell; I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. As I lean close to take a big whiff, I find myself at eye-level with the mirror, and in the mirror I see Freddie, butt naked, from behind. He looks so fit and muscular, like a regular superhero…