‘I’m not that cute!’ I say angrily. ‘You know what, forget it. I don’t expect you to understand. I’m going to bed, and if you don’t mind, I would like a minute in the room alone.’ I turn on a heel and walk towards the stairs, resisting the urge to look behind me.

‘Millie, I can’t believe you think I would sabotage you like that!’ Hugh calls. I hear an edge of frustration in his voice.

I can’t believe I let Hugh Harris get in my head. I have four more dives. I am not going to waste them.

Chapter 19

‘Wake up!’ shouts Pippa, knocking on our door. Groggily, I rub my eyes. I had been so upset when I went to bed the night before that I had forgotten to set an alarm.

‘Millie!’ Pippa shouts, rousing me from my thoughts. ‘We’re diving soon.’

Diving. We are diving. I’m on a boat in the middle of the ocean. In a room with Hugh Harris, who conveniently didn’t tell me he has a promotion riding on the butterfly wrasse being extinct.

‘I’m up,’ I grumble. I’m getting scarily good at responding to Millie’s name.

Millie. I can’t wait to talk to her. In less than three days I’ll be back in service and able to get an update from my family. Please, universe, I think, as I swing my legs over the top bunk, let her be OK.

Hugh’s bunk is empty. I swear at him under my breath for not waking me up. The coffee is probably all gone, and he probably feels proud of himself for beating me to the hot water.

I find my swimsuit – an old, navy string bikini, and shimmy into it in the bathroom. I run a toothbrush over my teeth and secure my knotty hair into a messy bun. I can feel puffiness around my eyes from crying the night before. I can’t wait to be off this boat, even if it’s just to jump in the water.

I head upstairs towards the sound of voices and find the deck abuzz with activity. Miguel and Vanessa are filling our oxygen tanks at the back of the boat. We’re headed to Queen’s Point Reef today. I checked Millie’s notes yesterday – the last butterfly wrasse was seen on Queen’s Point in 2016. This site is shallower than the other ones we’ve been to, so it’s a few degrees warmer. Butterfly wrasse prefer reefs with more depth. If you’ve gotten here, you’ve already done so many dives! she scribbled in the margins. Miss you xoxo!