I turn to find him balancing two very full cups of steaming liquid, one tea and one coffee. The liquid is dangerously close to sloshing all over the sides, but miraculously, despite the rocking of the boat, Hugh has kept it under control.

‘When I get bad news my mom brings me tea, but I know you like coffee so . . .’

I can’t be mad at someone who brought me coffee, so I smile and gratefully accept the cup from his outstretched hand. The steam curls up towards the sky and is instantly borne away on the breeze. ‘Thank you,’ I say, scooting over to make room for him.

‘I’m sorry about your sister. If you want to talk about it, I’m here. And, for the record, I’m also sorry about what I said to Vanessa. I didn’t know she was going to get mad at you. You’re already Miguel’s favourite anyways.’

‘Oh, come on.’ I raise a single eyebrow at him. ‘He’s like that with everybody.’ I pick at a loose thread on my sweatshirt. ‘And you certainly didn’t seem sorry yesterday,’ I mumble.

‘I know—’ he throws the hand not holding his tea up in defence ‘—I know I didn’t seem that sorry. I genuinely didn’t know she would actually threaten to shorten your dives. It clearly wasn’t our fault the groups got separated. If I’m honest, I think Miguel and Vanessa screwed that up.’

‘You think?’ I gaze down at the steaming coffee and gently blow on it. ‘I felt like it was my fault.’

Hugh shakes his head. ‘It wasn’t.’

‘Well,’ I say, attempting to hold onto my annoyance but it’s draining out of me. ‘It’s OK. I want to put it behind us. I need a clear head today.’

He smiles, slightly crooked and cheeky and genuine.

A laugh escapes my lips.

‘What?’ Hugh asks, a wrinkle appearing in between his eyebrows.

‘I just realised this is probably the Hugh everyone else has got . . . you’re kind of nice.’

‘I am nice.’

‘And happy.’

‘That too. I’m more than just a hot, Australian face, Millie.’

‘We’ll see about that.’ I laugh.

Hugh’s eyes dance turquoise. ‘So, I take it we have a truce then?’ he says.

‘Truce,’ I confirm. Then I remember the shark isn’t really why we weren’t friends in the first place. ‘Except the wrasse,’ I say. ‘I’m finding that fish. Whether you like it not.’

Hugh holds his cup of tea in front of his mouth, but I see a grin bloom behind it.

Chapter 13