‘Is that what you heard? I heard her say coral bleaching is still an issue.’ Hugh raises his eyebrows at me and for the first time, maybe because his sunglasses are back to covering his eyes, I notice his lips. They’re slightly chapped from sun and wind. His bottom lip is fuller than his top lip in an almost feminine way, but the strong line of his jaw balances it out. He has blond stubble sprouting across his chin.

‘And I heard her say that corals are healthier.’

‘Just because they’re healthier doesn’t mean the problem is fixed.’

‘It does mean that it’s not the primary problem anymore,’ I argue. I’ve spent enough time listening to Millie to know the high-level logic like the back of my hand. ‘Hugh, Vanessa said it herself, the pollution from fertiliser is killing the reef. We have to bring attention to it.’

‘We already have attention on the reef, though, why do we need to pivot it elsewhere, especially when coral bleaching is proven to move people to donate? Why risk people not donating at all?’

‘But that’s just it! Coral bleaching has been so overused that it doesn’t move people as much anymore.’

‘Where are your data points to back that up?’

‘I don’t need data points,’ I growl, although I wish I had service to text Millie and ask her what exactly the data points are. ‘I need a fish to prove to the public that they need to be focusing on something else.’

‘Well, you’re not gonna find it,’ Hugh says smugly.

‘Well, you’re being condescending.’

‘That’s all you’ve got?’

‘Ugh!’ I huff. ‘Look, I was going to ask you if we could just not talk about it. Can we agree to disagree?’

‘OK,’ Hugh says, his tone changing ever so slightly. ‘What do you propose we talk about?’

‘Hmmm . . . seasickness? Eye irritants?’

‘I have a better idea. How about the benefits of reef-friendly sunscreen?’ Hugh says.

‘Oh sure, that sounds like the best path to friendship. I’m sure talking about the one thing I forgot will help me forgive you for humiliating me online repeatedly and disagreeing with everything I stand for.’

Hugh blinks, and for a moment I wonder if I’ve taken things too far.

My worry dissipates as a smug expression crosses his face. ‘Wow, talking about forgiveness already? I didn’t expect that from you, Millie. You seem too stubborn to forgive.’

‘I think I may have spoken too soon,’ I say quickly. ‘Once I find the wrasse, and you apologise, then I’ll forgive you. Until then, don’t distract me. I have important work to do.’