‘So, Andrew will be without a partner . . .’ I say, casting a glance over at Hugh, who’s chatting with Natalie and Derek.

‘Yeah,’ Pippa says. ‘He really wants to see that bloody octopus.’

Before I can overthink it, I lean back away from the railing and motion to Hugh. ‘Buddies for the night dive?’ I mouth. I already had one shark encounter. I can’t take my chances on having someone else as a buddy, I need someone I can trust. Someone who I’m already comfortable with.

Hugh winks at me.

Pippa interrupts her musings on why jellyfish are scarier than sharks to give me a meaningful look.

‘What?’ I ask, feigning innocence.

‘Oh, you know what I’m talking about, Millie,’ she replies sweetly. ‘Oh, Hugh?’ She whispers under her breath in a fake American accent. ‘He’s the worst. We’re just friends . . . not even friends really.’ She carries on, mimicking what I had said to her before.

I swat at her, rolling my eyes, but her American accent is atrocious and I can’t help but laugh. I wait until I regain my composure before saying, ‘There is nothing going on. I am working.’

Pippa rolls her eyes. ‘Working?’ she asks. ‘Seriously? That is such codswallop.’

‘Codswallop?’

‘You know what I mean. Nonsense!’

‘No, it’s not!’ I argue. ‘I have stuff riding on this trip. It’s important to me and I promised myself I would make the most of it. I only asked Hugh because he’s the best diver here.’

‘If you say so,’ Pippa replies, but I can tell by her face she doesn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth.

Vanessa lugs an air tank by us, Miguel following close behind with another. Miguel and I make eye contact as he passes, and he stares at me a beat longer than usual. ‘You’re going to be great,’ he says encouragingly. This does not escape Pippa, who elbows me as we scoot to the captain’s room to get out of their way.