I glance over at Hugh. He’s chatting with Miguel. Miguel sees me looking and smiles in my direction, his dark lashes fluttering against his cheek. He is cute. And so much less messy. Maybe Pippa was right when she encouraged me to go for Miguel at the beginning of the trip. If I had, I wouldn’t have to worry about this Millie mess at all. But for some reason I can’t explain, Miguel feels firmly stuck in friend territory.

I smile hollowly back at Miguel while my brain churns through scenarios. If I’m going to come clean to Hugh, it should be tonight. That way I won’t have lied to him for a long time, and if he’s no longer interested in me because I’m not the person I said I was, then at least I’ll know sooner.

As soon as I decide this is the best course of action, I wonder what I’m thinking, jeopardising Millie’s career because of some stupid crush. But then I remember how Hugh’s body felt against mine, and my thoughts circle once again.

Similar to last night, we play another round of Hook Line Sinker after dinner. Pippa beats Andrew this time, much to everyone’s delight. She rubs it in his face smugly, even though he’s a very gracious loser.

Pippa wears Aaron down until he agrees to point out constellations to us, and we crowd on the platform, huddling together while Aaron points out Orion and Aquarius. He thinks he can see Venus winking in the distance, but I’m not so sure. Everyone laughs at Aaron’s attempt to retell a Greek myth associated with one of the constellations, which he punctuates freely with colourful slang. Eventually, the group dwindles. There’s a chorus of ‘thank yous’ to Aaron and the rest of the crew. Miguel claps people on the back as he takes his leave. Our group of nine is starting to feel closer now, more intimate than I was expecting. Pippa and Andrew head to bed. Natalie resigns herself to another face mask after she lays it on thick for Hugh to come with them on their Tablelands tour. She keeps referencing the thing they ‘need to talk about’ and every time she does, I feel my pulse start to race. I’m relieved when she and Derek go to bed.

‘You were quiet at dinner,’ Hugh says once we’re alone.

‘Yeah,’ I say, relaxing into the sturdy planking of the boat. I watch the empty hammock sway above me. I focus on my breathing, in and out, and on the stars and the sound of the ocean waves hitting the hull. I try everything to distract myself from the thoughts swirling in my head. ‘I’ve got a lot on my mind.’

‘If it’s about earlier . . .’