Hugh propels me forward once more without any sense of urgency, a gentle hand encouraging me along. Together, we kick in Vanessa’s direction. I start to relax in his grip, grateful for the way his body feels next to mine.

His hand lingers on my forearm, warm and stable. I resist the urge to layer one of my hands over the top of his. I want to feel even closer to him. I try to catch his eye, but he’s focused on Vanessa’s shadowy figure.

I remind myself that Hugh would have watched out for anyone he was diving with, even Derek. I force myself to remember that I have a job to do, a job that I cannot let thoughts of Hugh distract me from. But for a moment I wonder if this is what’s under Hugh’s stubborn exterior. Someone who looks out for others. Someone who helps them find sunscreen. Someone who saves them from sharks. Someone who’s nice.

As if he can read my mind, Hugh drops his hand from my arm as soon as we get closer to Vanessa. I turn to see if the shark is still following us, but all I see is a flick of its fins as it disappears into the gaping wide blue of the ocean. We reach Vanessa, who looks behind us for Miguel and Derek. When she realises we are alone, she immediately motions for us to ascend, her gestures impatient. She is not happy.

As soon as we break the surface, I take my regulator out of my mouth. We’re closer to the boat than I thought we were, popping up only about twenty-five yards from where it’s moored.

‘Are you OK?’ Hugh asks me, his regulator floating in the water.

My teeth are chattering, but I’m not cold. ‘I . . . I guess,’ I stammer. I put my face in the water to check the ocean floor below, terrified that I’ll see the shark lurking underneath my feet. When I look up to take a breath, Hugh is looking at me intently, worry creasing his brow.

‘That little guy scared you, huh?’

‘Little guy? He was huge!’

Hugh laughs. ‘And you thought I was the one who was nervous in the water.’

I glare at him, but only for a beat. ‘Thank you,’ I say, quietly, so I don’t know if he hears it above the sound of the ocean waves.

‘Don’t mention it,’ he whispers back. We share a look and I have a surge of optimism that maybe this trip could turn around, that maybe I’m not bunking with the worst possible option, but my thoughts are quickly interrupted by Vanessa clearing her throat. I turn to see her glaring at us, the look in her eye a clear warning that Hugh and I should never have let her out of our sight.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say immediately.