Bonnie’s chest immediately tightens. She wants to kiss Ty. She wants to let herself believe in the potential of Ty, but that’s hard to do in any new relationship, let alone when the guy is dating a dozen other girls. How many times has Darcy repeated that Reckon you guys could give us a kiss phrase? ‘Reckon you guys could give us some privacy?’ Bonnie says, half playful, half serious.

Ty shrugs at Bonnie, indicating it’s up to her whether or not they kiss.

Bonnie glances back to the crew, the cameras … She feels like a bright spotlight is fiercely shining on her. She kissed him last time on their one-on-one date, but she’d spent the whole day with him. Now it feels rushed, and her body prickles with panic.

Ty reaches out and squeezes her hand. ‘It’s okay. I get it. We don’t have to force anything.’

Bonnie just wants a second to think it through, but Darcy must assume her hesitation means the kiss isn’t going to happen. ‘We’re really running behind schedule. We’re going to move Ty on to the next girl now.’

Bonnie feels a cold wind whip at her heart. Her time is up. A twelve-hour day with two minutes of one-on-one time. Maybe she should have kissed him.

‘If you want to head back to the girls,’ Darcy says, ‘I’ll come get you for your interview soon.’ Interviews were conducted at the end of each date in which you pretty much had to talk Darcy through the date step by step and explain how you felt at every moment. Bonnie’s sure it’s more boring and painful for the crew than it is for her.

Bonnie says goodbye to Ty and slowly heads back to the group of girls. On her way she sees Ben pull his mobile from his pocket and grimace, probably at the time. He steps back from the camera, well aware the simple makeup ‘touch-up’ will take more time than he’d like.

Bonnie watches as he scratches at his oversized beard, his fingers quickly lost from sight.

‘Might be time to shave?’

He looks up and smiles. ‘You wouldn’t recognise me if I shaved this off.’

‘Why is that? Are you hiding a baby face under there?’

‘Nah, just ridiculously good looks.’

She can’t help but smirk. ‘Hand me a razor,’ she jokes. She should head back to the group of girls, but instead stops to talk. ‘How long has it been since you’ve shaved?’

He considers, an amused grin trying to make its way through all the hair. ‘You know, I actually don’t know. A couple of years?’

‘Dedication.’

He seems to take this as a compliment. ‘When I decide to do something, I stick to it.’