why not just tell him the truth? tell him you're going away with a bunch of women on a retreat, or whatever it is.

if your intent is to fix this R, then lying isnt going to help.

and dont argue with the term lying. if you're not telling the truth, you're lying.

wouldnt you rather have told the truth, and then be able to come back and tell him all about it?

"In a ham and eggs breakfast, the hen is involved, but the pig is committed".