“I mean, we both know you hate going to places like this, so what gives?” I leaned back against the door and crossed my arms over my chest as I analyzed his face. “I’m the one that likes pub food and doesn’t mind watching the strippers, so why are we here, Peter?”

“I thought we’d try something different, maybe have a few drinks and have a little fun.”

My brow cocked at his explanation. “Yeah, I’m not buying it. Do you think I’m stupid? I’m not going in there until you tell me exactly what is going on.”

A bit of his overly happy mask slipped as it became clear I wasn’t going to get out and go into this place with him. I had no idea at this point if he planned on having me become the entertainment or if he thought it would be fun to watch the shit get beat out of me for being a fed.

“What do you think I’m trying to do? Humiliate you, maybe? Kind of like you humiliated me in front of my family?”

I shook my head. “Are you kidding me right now?”

Peter picked up his cell phone and held it up to face me. “Call me. Go ahead and see what happens.”

Confused, I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and hit redial beside his name. The song “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash began to play, but the picture that showed up had me laughing so hard tears rolled down my cheeks. There, front and center on the screen, was a close-up of Peter’s bare ass with the cucumber shoved in until only a few inches were visible.

“You think this is funny?” Peter hit the end button on the screen. I tried to stop laughing, but every time I attempted to get the words out, I started all over again. “This isn’t funny! When I was in my meeting today, the phone rang, and that is what showed up. Luckily, I played it off as a prank from the boys at the golf club, but it could’ve sunk my entire deal. I was mortified.”

Wiping the tears away, I managed to get control enough of myself to speak.

“Peter, I didn’t do it, and even if I did take the picture, I was in no shape to upload it to your phone. I couldn’t even get out of my dress.”

“Well, I certainly didn’t take this photo. You know I knew all along you were lying, and this proves it.” He shook his head, his eyes flaring with anger that made me uncomfortable and sobered the rest of the laughter out of my system.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Peter. Obviously, you don’t believe me, yet I can’t tell you I did something that I didn’t.”