I guess I would try to keep my own responses both shorter and simpler so I wouldn't have to lie, there'd be no elaborate story that could get changed, and there'd be less to react negatively to?

I would also respond either positively or neutrally to what he had to say so it wouldn't irritate. "I'm sorry you feel that way" can be true and might forestall arguments. Just a simple "Yes" without elaboration is fine too; you will feel it means X and it may/may not mean that to the other person; neither party has any way to argue with the other when they're agreeing. If a positive is questioned and I don't feel strong/like discussion, I'd stonewall with "Are you going to tell me how I feel?" It can be a little like a stranger asking a personal question that's none of their business; other people, even intimates, cannot legitimately question us when we make a statement about how we feel. And if you call me a "liar" when I tell you how I feel, you will have an argument on your hands that you can't win :-)