The hallway is so narrow that I’ve backed myself fully up against it. We’re still only inches from each other. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I stammer breathlessly, turning away from his torso as fast as I can, quickly wrapping myself in my towel. I gulp in air, trying to slow my racing heart. When I glance back up at Hugh, he’s eyeing me cautiously.

He opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, I speak: ‘I didn’t mean to.’ The words tumble out of my mouth. ‘I’ve gotta, um, go shower.’

Hugh’s cheeks colour red. ‘Oh . . . OK . . . I didn’t mean to . . .’

I shake my head dumbly. ‘You didn’t do anything. It was an – it was an accident.’

‘Yeah.’ Hugh nods, he isn’t meeting my gaze anymore.

‘We’re fine,’ I say, more to myself than to him.

Hugh meets my eyes this time. ‘Yep,’ he agrees, but his voice has lost any trace of emotion.

He retreats towards our room, and I want so badly to touch him again. My hands twitch, pulled by an invisible string to reach up and place a thumb on Hugh’s bottom lip, to run my fingers through his damp hair. My hips want to find his.

My brain cuts through my body’s noise. You can’t do this to Millie! it screams. I feel like I’ve been lit on fire.

I stumble to the shower, staying under the water as long as I can before it feels impolite to the rest of the people who need to use the miniscule bathroom. I still don’t feel like I’ve scrubbed the Hugh off my skin.

The way his chest felt, so firm and strong, the way our hips locked together immediately. I feel like I just drank three cups of coffee, and yet my throat still feels dry.

I’m nervous to climb above deck. After our collision I feel vulnerable and terrified, and the shower did nothing to still my beating heart. I throw on an oversized T-shirt over a pair of baggy jean shorts, hoping to cover myself up as much as possible. I pile my hair up. When I step out onto the cabin and onto the deck Hugh looks up. For a moment, our eyes lock.

It’s going to be a long night, I think, as I gingerly make my way over to my usual spot. There is not enough room in that crowded cabin for the tension between us.

Chapter 18

Four dives to go

Hugh raises his eyes to meet mine when I sit down. My heart skips a beat. I hold my breath as I wait for what he’ll say.

‘Well, look who decided to show up with clothes on,’ he says.