When my friend Mia set me up with Eric, I expected nothing — but he impressed me. He brought roses,

a small gift, and perfect manners at dinner. We laughed, shared stories, and bonded over favorite podcasts.

When the check came, he insisted on paying, saying, “A man pays on the first date.” I thought I’d met a gentleman.

The next morning, his message shocked me — a professionally formatted “invoice” for the date. Instead of money, each “charge” demanded

affection: a hug for flowers, a coffee date for the keychain, a hand-hold for pulling out my chair.

At the bottom, it warned “payment is expected in full” or he’d “tell Chris,” our mutual friend.

I sent it to Mia, and Chris was stunned. His revenge? A “service invoice” for introducing Eric to “a gorgeous woman”

(payment: permanent block) and “not exposing you online” (payment: gratitude). Eric’s angry texts followed, but I blocked him.

Lesson learned: if someone insists on paying, ensure they don’t expect repayment in inappropriate ways.

I kept the keychain — not as a romantic memento, but as a souvenir from the strangest date I’ll ever have.