‘Um,’ I hesitate. Millie hadn’t mentioned I would be sharing a room with strangers. There isn’t even space in the room to put down my bag. If I drop it, I’ll have to lay it on a bed. It’s so cramped I feel like I’m having trouble breathing. As if Vanessa can sense I’m about to start hyperventilating, she steps back and lets me stand in the room myself. I feel marginally better.

‘The other two rooms just have a queen bed, and we think the couples should take those. So, if all right with you, you’ll share with . . .’ She pauses and consults her clipboard.

Not Hugh, I think.

‘Hugh!’ she says brightly.

‘Um . . .’ I trail off again. I have no idea what to say. Millie would say no, but I hate confrontation.

‘If you don’t feel comfortable,’ Vanessa says, leaning in closer, her voice dropping to a sympathetic whisper, ‘we can figure something out. Sometimes we throw all the men in the bunk room, but—’ she glances at her clipboard ‘—usually the couples take the bigger beds.’

She must read the concern on my face, because she adds, ‘I thought this was explained in the waiver when you signed up, there’s usually a warning about the room situation because the boat is so small.’

‘Oh no, it’s fine,’ I say quickly. The last thing I want to do is bring attention to myself, and I can manage to share a room for four nights. I’ll take the top bunks, and Hugh can take the bottom ones. Given how tiny it is, we’ll only be in this room to sleep and change anyways. ‘This is great.’ I force a smile.

‘Wonderful!’ Vanessa makes a notation on her clipboard and then proceeds to show me the bathroom, which is so small it takes practically no ‘showing’. There’s a toilet and a showerhead jammed right next to each other. There isn’t even a mirror. When I stand up inside of it, my head almost grazes the ceiling. I wonder how Hugh will fit inside, and then I realise that he probably won’t. The shower looks more like it was built for dogs than for humans, the faucet only comes up to my neck.

‘I know it’s small,’ Vanessa acquiesces, as we climb the ladders back up out onto the deck, ‘but a small boat is the only way we can get to the best reefs.’ She smiles at me, her bun spilling out all over head, and, despite the news that I’ll be crammed in a room with Hugh Harris for the next four nights, I can’t help but mirror her excitement. That’s what Millie had told me too. The best scuba diving in the world.