Vanessa has spotted a sea turtle, and it’s swimming in the direction of the boat, so our group starts to follow a respectful distance behind it. It flaps its flippers leisurely, sometimes surfacing up into the waves and diving back down. It doesn’t seem bothered by our presence at all. It’s fascinating to watch it swim against the deep, infinitely blue backdrop of the ocean. Derek’s camera never leaves his face. I bet he’s taken a hundred pictures. Eventually, the turtle veers off to the right. Vanessa continues to lead us straight ahead until we pass the second reef and arrive back at the mooring line. Hugh is behind me for the ascent this time, and I watch as he helps Andrew figure out how to ascend without popping up too fast.

When we break through to the surface, Hugh’s mouth is in a thin line. He usually looks so happy after dives that I feel my heart tug in my chest. My first thought is that I hope Andrew wasn’t too exhausting of a buddy – watching him struggle with his buoyancy is one thing, being a partner in his troubles is another. My second thought is that I shouldn’t care. Thinking about Hugh no longer needs to be on my priority list.

As we bob in the current waiting for Vanessa and Miguel to lower down the bucket for us to drop our fins into, everyone starts to chat about the sea turtle. Hugh stays silent. So do I. We are the first to clamber up the ladder, and we wordlessly put away our equipment. I try not to remember how ironic it is that I am mad at him for keeping secrets.

Hugh clears his throat next to me. ‘So how was your dive?’ he asks.

‘Fine,’ I say, my voice taut. ‘Yours?’

‘Fine. So, you liked Pippa as a buddy then?’

‘Yep.’

Hugh’s shoulders slump, but he doesn’t say anything else. I watch him walk away from the bench. I should be happier after just watching a sea turtle swim majestically over the Great Barrier Reef. I should feel triumphant after sticking Hugh with someone less experienced. Instead, I just feel confused. Revenge, however small, isn’t as sweet as I expected.

Chapter 20

Three dives to go

Hugh knocks on the door to our cabin while I’m in the middle of pulling a shirt over my head.

‘One second,’ I call out. I pull down the T-shirt. ‘OK, come in.’

Hugh squeezes into the cabin beside me. ‘A lot more modesty than yesterday,’ he quips darkly, ‘things have certainly changed.’

‘Look.’ I spin around, hands on my hips. ‘First of all, can you stop referencing our little accident as a seduction ploy. I wasn’t exactly staking out your shower and planning to jump you in the hallway. Secondly, how did you not expect me to be upset about your paper?’