By mid-afternoon, the Singapore heat had become oppressive. Augustus suggested Gardens by the Bay, specifically the Cloud Forest conservatory, where air-conditioning and an indoor waterfall promised relief.
I was skeptical.
"You want to visit a tourist attraction?"
"You wanted sightseeing."
"I assumed you'd claim we didn't have time."
"We have time."
Inside, mist drifted between elevated walkways. A waterfall plunged down a towering cliff covered in moss and ferns.
I stopped. "This is incredible."
"The engineering is impressive," Augustus said. "The climate-control system alone—"
"If you turn our date into an infrastructure assessment, I'm leaving you here."
He closed his mouth.
"Thank you."
We wandered among orchids and tropical plants, occasionally stopping for photographs. Mist clung to my hair. Augustus, in his immaculate linen shirt, looked as though he'd accidentally wandered into somebody else's vacation.
Then I caught him pointing his phone at me.
