Page 51 of Head First
‘Me seducing you? You accosted me in a towel! You were naked!’
‘That was an accident,’ I say through clenched teeth.
‘Like I’m supposed to believe that. You like me, Millie. I can feel it, just like I know you can.’
‘You know, Hugh, I wish I could say you were right, but unfortunately it’s hard to like someone when they change personalities every five minutes.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘First you’re combative, then you’re rude, stand-offish, and stuck-up,’ I say, counting with my fingers, ‘and then you’re nice, and helpful, and caring and thoughtful. I don’t even know who you are!’
‘Millie, we’ve been over this. Being rude to each other was our thing. I thought we were flirting. Iamnice and helpful. And yeah, I’ve been hitting on you, but it’s because I think you’re cute. You’re easy to talk to. I feel like I can trust you. So what if professionally we don’t exactly match up. It’s not like I’m out to sabotage you.’
‘I’m not that cute!’ I say angrily. ‘You know what, forget it. I don’t expect you to understand. I’m going to bed, and if you don’t mind, I would like a minute in the room alone.’ I turn on a heel and walk towards the stairs, resisting the urge to look behind me.
‘Millie, I can’t believe you think I would sabotage you like that!’ Hugh calls. I hear an edge of frustration in his voice.
I can’t believe I let Hugh Harris get in my head. I have four more dives. I am not going to waste them.
Chapter 19
‘Wake up!’ shouts Pippa, knocking on our door. Groggily, I rub my eyes. I had been so upset when I went to bed the night before that I had forgotten to set an alarm.
‘Millie!’ Pippa shouts, rousing me from my thoughts. ‘We’re diving soon.’
Diving. We are diving. I’m on a boat in the middle of the ocean. In a room with Hugh Harris, who conveniently didn’t tell me he has a promotion riding on the butterfly wrasse being extinct.
‘I’m up,’ I grumble. I’m getting scarily good at responding to Millie’s name.
Millie. I can’t wait to talk to her. In less than three days I’ll be back in service and able to get an update from my family. Please, universe, I think, as I swing my legs over the top bunk, let her be OK.
Hugh’s bunk is empty. I swear at him under my breath for not waking me up. The coffee is probably all gone, and he probably feels proud of himself for beating me to the hot water.
I find my swimsuit – an old, navy string bikini, and shimmy into it in the bathroom. I run a toothbrush over my teeth and secure my knotty hair into a messy bun. I can feel puffiness around my eyes from crying the night before. I can’t wait to be off this boat, even if it’s just to jump in the water.
I head upstairs towards the sound of voices and find the deck abuzz with activity. Miguel and Vanessa are filling our oxygen tanks at the back of the boat. We’re headed to Queen’s Point Reef today. I checked Millie’s notes yesterday – the last butterfly wrasse was seen on Queen’s Point in 2016. This site is shallower than the other ones we’ve been to, so it’s a few degrees warmer. Butterfly wrasse prefer reefs with more depth.If you’ve gotten here, you’ve already done so many dives!she scribbled in the margins.Miss you xoxo!
Aaron is poring over a map in his captain’s chair. Everyone else is milling about the deck. Natalie, Derek and Hugh are standing together, chatting. Natalie looks more animated than I’ve ever seen her, Hugh looks unsure, standing with his arms crossed over his chest. They all turn to look at me.
Natalie motions me over, but I pretend not to see, instead making a beeline for Pippa. It will be a small miracle if I can get through this day without talking to Hugh, but I’m certainly going to try.
‘Thank you for waking me up,’ I say to Pippa.
‘Long night?’
I nod, yawning.
‘I could tell,’ she says under her breath, nodding in the direction of Natalie, Derek and Hugh. ‘Did something happen between you two?’
‘There is no us two,’ I say with finality. My voice is tense. Hurt crosses Pippa’s face at my tone. ‘Sorry,’ I say quickly. ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘It’s OK,’ she says, patting my arm. ‘Sunscreen?’ She holds out the bottle like an olive branch.
While I lather myself up, I ask Pippa if she’ll be my dive partner this morning. I ask in front of Andrew on purpose, hoping if either of them is reluctant about separating I’ll notice.
‘Does that mean I’d get to be with Hugh?’ Andrew asks brightly. Pippa rolls her eyes. ‘I mean,’ he backpedals, ‘how could you tear me away from Pippa, a perfect angel, light of my life?’
I chuckle. Leave it to Andrew to make me laugh when I didn’t even feel like I could smile.
