#Chapter 99: Beautiful to Him

Asher wanted me to tell him that I wasn’t involved in a swimsuit contest. All I had to do was lie to him, and he’d calm down, but when I opened my mouth, the lie did not come out. I said, “Maybe it won’t be as bad as you think.” I hadn’t realized he was still holding the television remote with one hand, until the pieces of it clattered down onto the floor. The temperature in the room dropped. If I didn’t do something, Asher would go ballistic. I hated to lie to him, but to protect him, I had to smudge the truth some. “I’m wearing the one piece,” I said quickly. “And it’s at a nice location, not… a bar.” “Where?” he asked, voice so deep and rough, he barely sounded like himself. “A restaurant,” I said. “Mom and Pop place. Very tasteful.” I nervously hooked my fingers together. “The contestants are going to be me and the other cheerleaders. It will be, like, a bonding experience.” His eyes narrowed, suspicious. “And the audience?” “I’m not totally sure.” I tried to think quickly.