After being single for a while, I stepped into a new date with cautious optimism. My best friend Mia had set me up with Eric, a man she swore was sweet, thoughtful, and a true gentleman. Mia’s boyfriend, Chris, even chimed in with his own glowing recommendation, so I figured—why not give it a chance? Eric’s photo showed a bright smile and kind eyes, so I agreed to meet him for dinner.
Eric made a stunning first impression. He arrived not only with a bouquet of roses but also a small personalized keychain engraved with my initials. Throughout the evening he held doors open, pulled out my chair, and paid for dinner without hesitation. He was attentive, funny, and surprisingly easy to talk to. We bonded over crime podcasts, swapped favorite documentary recommendations, and even discovered a shared love for obscure indie films. When the evening ended with a warm, lingering hug, I walked away thinking maybe—just maybe—I’d finally met someone genuine.
But the next morning shattered that illusion in the most bizarre way imaginable. My phone buzzed with an email from Eric. Attached was a PDF titled: “Date Night Invoice.”
It itemized every “act of kindness” from the night before with a “required payment” for each:
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A hug for the roses.
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A selfie for pulling out my chair.
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A guaranteed second date as repayment for dinner.
At the bottom, in bold letters, it read:
“Payment is due in full. No refunds.”
Stunned, I forwarded the document to Mia. She immediately sent it to Chris, who was so outraged he decided to turn the absurdity on its head. Within an hour, he created his own mock “invoice” addressed to Eric, charging him for “wasting a perfectly good bouquet,” “inflicting secondhand embarrassment,” and “trying to monetize basic decency.” The kicker: “Payment due immediately, in the form of a public apology to all women.”
We sent it back to Eric. His response? A string of angry messages accusing us of being childish and immature, followed by a dramatic declaration that I’d just passed up a “great guy.” That was the last straw. I blocked him without another word.
Mia apologized profusely, but I assured her it wasn’t her fault. If anything, the whole experience turned into a story we’d never stop laughing about.
Dating is unpredictable, especially later in life. That night reminded me to watch for red flags early, never feel guilty about setting boundaries, and always appreciate the power of humor — and fiercely loyal friends — when things go sideways.
