‘Well . . .’ I hesitate. Hugh is right, I have been an ass about him being seasick. ‘I didn’t know you actually got sick.’ I glance down. ‘I was teasing. And, in fairness, you were mean to me on the bus about the sunscreen. You started it.’

‘I wasn’t mean!’ He scoffs gently. ‘And even if I was, you would do the same thing if you were me. That sunscreen hurts the ocean.’

‘I know.’ I hang my head. ‘I’m sorry I even said anything. We can go back to being our usual rude and unfriendly selves now.’ I can feel Hugh’s eyes on me without having to look up.

‘Look, I’m up here to extend an olive branch of forgiveness then, considering there are too many things I’m supposed to apologise for.’

I sigh. ‘Oh, lucky me to be forgiven. And what, may I ask, is making you so magnanimous as to offer me forgiveness?’

‘Woah. Too early in the morning for big American words.’

‘OK,’ I reply, ‘I’ll dumb it down for you. What gives that you suddenly want us to be friends?’

‘Last night. When you jumped in the water to get that cup, I saw how much you cared. And for the record, that’s what made me change my mind about our attitudes. I’m not proud to admit it but I didn’t think you were as committed as me to the cause.’ Hugh says the last bit slowly, choosing his words carefully.

‘Of course, I’m committed.’ I turn around to face him. ‘Why would I be out here if I wasn’t? We don’t all have the luck to be born on the same continent as the thing we want to study, you know. Just because I can’t be out here all the time doesn’t make me “less committed”. You can’t use your geographical privilege to say you’re better than me.’

Hugh hesitates, scratching the stubble on his chin. ‘Fair point,’ he admits. ‘I didn’t think about it that way. Anyways, it’s cool to see someone care as much as me.’

‘Hmm,’ I grunt, but I’m softening, and he can tell.

‘I’m not saying I’ll stop making fun of you.’

‘I suppose that’s all right with me.’ I sink back into the hammock. The light is still soft over the ocean. The sun will be blazing in a couple of hours. I let a big sigh escape from my lips.

‘So, do you want to talk about it?’ Hugh asks. I can hear him settling against the platform next to me.