‘You never told me that!’ Millie says, leaping up from the couch. She’s regained all of her vitality and previous mobility. She’s even coming to terms with her new breasts, although she still refers to them as her ‘chicken cutlets’.

‘I didn’t?’ I ask. I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of Derek sooner.

I hastily search back into my email for the last one I received from the Coral Sea Dreaming tour company. In the string of CCs, it included Derek’s email: dwilson@texastech.

‘Are you gonna ask him? The camera guy?’

‘Yes! I’m going as fast as I can,’ I say impatiently, taking the computer out of Millie’s hands and plopping it into my lap.

I fire off a quick email, explaining why I need the pictures and asking if he minds just sending off whatever he took during the last day.

I am about to shut my computer, not expecting Derek to respond right away, when I hear the familiar ding of a message landing in my inbox.

‘OMG,’ Millie says, peering over my shoulder.

‘We don’t know if it’s even him who’s responding,’ I remind her.

But it is. Derek has attached a zip file with over a hundred photos.

His message reads:

Hi Millie/Andi,

Nice to hear from you. I hope you’re well. I attach a zip file of all the photos I took on the last day. If you’re wondering how I could send them so fast (because yes, working in tech is quite time-consuming, I wasn’t lying about that), it’s because Hugh just asked for the same set of photos. If I’m honest, Natalie was worried she left a bad taste in your mouth after the trip. If you’re reaching out to me for photos, I’m glad to assume that’s not the case!

She was hoping to speak to you while we were on the boat, but she never got the chance to – she is spearheading a new campaign for a skincare line that includes sunscreen and she wants to pitch to her boss the idea of including a marine biologist as a user. Would the marine biologist in your family be interested? I’m going to pass along your email so she can send you more details.

Cheers!

Derek

Millie snorts with laughter when she reads the opening lines of the email.

‘I told you,’ I say, also laughing, ‘he is that guy. You know how many times I heard about how much he works?’

‘Skincare!’ Millie squeals. ‘Did she ask you to model?’

‘That’s why she kept talking to Hugh?’ I shake my head in disbelief.

‘You could have gotten free sunscreen?’ Millie squints at me in disbelief. ‘And you didn’t?’

‘I didn’t know,’ I say. ‘God, I’m so dumb.’

‘Is she the one you didn’t like?’