‘I hate this part of the night,’ Jodie murmurs. She smooths over her Bollywood outfit, much the same as Bonnie’s but a soft lilac colour.

Cassie, in electric blue, agrees. ‘I start to analyse every word I said to him.’

Bonnie feels the same. She’d thought their conversation had been going okay. He seemed happy to see her, he said he’d been worried about her. In that moment she’d taken it as a good sign that maybe there was a future for them. But then he abruptly ended their time together, right after she’d asked whether the whole baby issue would be a deal-breaker. It doesn’t feel like he’s about to give her a key.

‘They won’t make us wait too much longer.’ Hayley, a true cheerleader, is forever bolstering everyone.

‘I just really hope he gets to meet Zac,’ Cassie says, playing with the locket around her neck, which holds a photo of her five-year-old son.

Bonnie reaches out to squeeze her hand when Darcy suddenly appears, striding towards them, holding her clipboard as usual.

‘Sorry about the hold-up, girls. Anyone need a toilet break or a drink before we get things going?’

They murmur no. Everyone just wants to get this over with and know who Ty is sending home.

‘All right,’ Darcy calls loudly, ‘everyone into position, please.’ The crew abandon the cards for their equipment. The girls move to the five small marks that have been set out on the floor for them.

Bonnie can feel her stomach twisting in knots. Her legs are unsteady as she tries to ignore the sensation that she’s standing on a boat in the middle of a rough sea. She watches as Darcy casts one last look around the room and then calls, ‘Action.’

They’ve been told hundreds of times not to look at the cameras, but Bonnie finds her eyes drifting to Ben, his back slightly hunched as he looks through the lens. But her attention shifts as Ty enters the room. He’s pale and distaste brackets his mouth; clearly he’s more than a little unsettled about what he’s about to do.

He stands in front of them next to a small table holding the four keys.

Bonnie finds herself closing her eyes for a moment, wondering which one of them will be going home.

Ty looks to Darcy, whose expression is fixed and serious. She just nods, indicating for him to begin when he’s ready.

He takes another moment before looking up at the five of them. ‘I want each of you to know that I really appreciate you being here for me and letting me get to know you. I’m truly touched that you’ve all opened your hearts.’ He visibly swallows down on a lump in his throat, his head dropping. ‘I don’t deserve it.’

‘Keep rolling,’ Darcy says to the crew. ‘We’ll edit that out.’