When Eric showed up to our first date with roses and a monogrammed keychain with my initials, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. He was charming, attentive, and even pulled my chair out for me. We met through mutual friends — Mia (my best friend) and Chris (his roommate) — so I felt pretty confident going in.
He insisted on paying for everything, smiling as he said, “A man pays on the first date.” I thanked him, a little impressed by his confidence and manners. The conversation was decent, and while there weren’t fireworks, he seemed sweet and respectful. That night, I went to bed feeling hopeful.
Finally, a decent guy? Maybe? The next morning, I woke up to a text.
I expected something cute, like: “Had a great time. Hope to see you again.” Instead, I got… an invoice. No, seriously.
An actual itemized invoice titled: “Date Night – Amount Due.” Here’s what it said: Bouquet of Roses – 1 hug, Custom Keychain Gift – 1 coffee date, Dinner & Tip – A guaranteed second date, Polite Conversation – A compliment about my appearance, Transportation Costs – A voice note saying I’m “worth it.”
At the bottom, in bold: “Failure to comply may result in collection — via Chris.” Yes. That Chris. Our mutual friend who vouched for him.
