When Eric insisted on covering the bill for our first date, I honestly thought I’d met a true gentleman. He showed up with roses, a thoughtful gift, and engaging conversation — everything seemed perfect. So the next day, when I saw a text from him, I expected a sweet follow-up message. Instead, what I read made my stomach drop.
My best friend, Mia, had meant well when she offered to set me up, but her matchmaking skills had never been tested.
“He’s such a nice guy, Kelly! A complete gentleman. You’ll love him,” Mia gushed over the phone while I rifled through my closet.
“You’ve never set me up before,” I reminded her. “What makes you think you know my type?”
“Because I know you better than anyone,” she said confidently. “Plus, Chris vouches for him. They’ve been friends for years.”
That gave me pause. Chris, Mia’s boyfriend, had always been a good judge of character. If he thought Eric was decent, maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Fine,” I sighed. “At least show me a picture.”
Seconds later, my phone pinged with a message.
The man in the photo wasn’t bad-looking at all — clean-cut, well-dressed, with a warm, genuine smile.
“Okay, he’s cute,” I admitted.
“Told you!” Mia squealed. “Text him and set up a date. You won’t regret it, I promise.”
After a few light exchanges over text, I agreed to meet Eric for dinner at a new Italian place by the river. It wasn’t overly fancy but still nice enough for a first date.
I arrived about five minutes early and waited near the entrance, fiddling with my phone camera to check my appearance. That’s when I saw him walking toward me.
My pulse picked up — the photo hadn’t lied. He looked polished, confident, and handsome. But what I hadn’t expected was the bouquet of roses in his hand.
Not the cheap kind from a grocery store, but a professional arrangement tied with a ribbon.
“You must be Kelly,” he said warmly, handing me the flowers. “These are for you.”
“Wow, thank you,” I replied, genuinely touched. “You didn’t have to.”
“Just wanted to start the night off right,” he said with a smile.
Then, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small gift box tied with a cyan bow.
“What’s this?” I asked, surprised.
“Just a little something. Go ahead, open it,” he encouraged.
Inside was a sleek silver keychain with the letter “K” engraved on it — simple, thoughtful, and clearly personalized.
“I asked Mia what you might like,” he said.
I was impressed. Flowers and a meaningful gift on a first date? This man was clearly going all in.
“This is so sweet of you,” I said sincerely.
From there, he didn’t drop the gentleman act. He opened doors, pulled out my chair, and kept solid eye contact. He asked questions about my work as a graphic designer, remembered small details from our texts, and made me feel like the only person in the room.
“So what made you say yes to this setup?” he asked after we ordered.
“Mia can be very persuasive,” I laughed. “And Chris vouched for you — that’s rare.”
“They’re great people,” he nodded. “Chris and I go back to college. He’s always been a stand-up guy.”
The conversation was easy. We bonded over true crime podcasts and quirky documentaries. He told me funny stories about his marketing job, and I started thinking this might be the best first date I’d ever had.
When the check came, I reached for my purse.
“Absolutely not,” Eric said firmly, already putting his card down. “A man pays on the first date.”
The way he said it sounded more like a rule than a gesture, but I didn’t argue. “Okay, if you insist. Thank you.”
We left, and he asked if he could call me again soon. I said yes. He hugged me goodbye — warm but not overbearing — and I drove home smiling.
The next morning, I woke to a message from Eric. My half-asleep brain expected a “Had a great time” text, but instead, there was an attachment.
I made coffee, sat back down, and opened it — expecting maybe a picture from last night.
It was an invoice.
At the top:
Date Night Invoice – Amount Due: 1 Outstanding Balance.
Beneath was a list of “services” with “charges” — not in money, but in affection.
Bouquet of Roses: 1 hug
Custom Keychain: 1 coffee date (within a week)
Opening Car Door: A cute selfie together
Pulling Out Chair: Holding hands on the next date
Engaging Conversation: A compliment about my appearance
Dinner + Tip: A guaranteed second date
At the bottom, in bold:
Payment expected in full. No refunds. Failure to comply may result in the balance being sent to collections (Chris will hear about it).
My jaw dropped.
I screenshotted it and sent it to Mia. Her reply came instantly:
“OH. MY. GOD. I’m showing this to Chris right now.”
Within minutes, Chris called me, laughing so hard he could barely speak.
“I’ve known this guy for years and never thought he’d pull something like this. We have to get him back.”
Chris decided to create a matching invoice, only flipped around.
Service Invoice – Amount Due: A Lifetime of Silence
Introducing You to a Gorgeous Woman: Permanent block on all platforms
Convincing Her You Were a Gentleman: Personal reflection on why you’re still single
Letting You Sit at Her Table: Formal apology to every woman you’ve dated
Not Posting This Online: A gift you should be grateful for
Payment due immediately. Failure to comply may result in public humiliation.
I told Chris to send it.
Soon after, I got a string of angry messages from Eric:
“Wow, really mature.”
“I was just setting expectations; not everyone is rich.”
“You just missed out on a GREAT guy.”
I didn’t reply — just sent a thumbs-up emoji and blocked him.
Later, Mia called, still laughing. “I’m so sorry. I thought he was normal.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “We got a good story out of it.”
And now, I have one dating rule: If a man insists on paying, make sure he’s not going to send you an invoice afterward.
Oh, and the keychain? I kept it — not because of Eric, but as a souvenir from the strangest date of my life.