Seeing Ashley Bowen looking so glum, Howard suddenly stood up, pushed back his chair, and took her hand. "Come on, I'll teach you how to swim."
"Um, I haven't finished eating yet," Ashley Bowen hesitated, but Howard had already pulled her to her feet.
"You can eat after you're tired from swimming. Come on." Howard walked over to the bar, opened a bottle of red wine, and poured a glass for Ashley Bowen. "A pre-swim warm-up."
"But... I don't drink." Ashley Bowen frowned, looked up at Howard, and bit her lip.
But Howard was insistent. He nudged the glass toward her and raised his right eyebrow. "You have to drink it. When you're in a bad mood, alcohol is the best way to de-stress."
"Who says I'm in a bad mood?" Flustered that he had seen through her so easily, Ashley Bowen tilted her head up defensively.
But Howard paid her no mind. He swirled the red wine in his glass, then downed it in one go.
