When my friend Mia set me up with Eric, I didn’t expect much — but he was charming. He arrived with roses,

a small gift, and perfect manners. We laughed through dinner, shared stories, and bonded easily.

When the check came, he insisted, “A man pays on the first date.” I agreed, thinking I’d met a true gentleman.

The next morning shattered that illusion. Eric sent me a professionally formatted “invoice” — not for money,

but for affection. Each “charge” demanded repayment: a hug for the flowers, a hand-hold for pulling out my chair,

a coffee date for the gift. At the bottom, he wrote that “payment is expected in full,” or he’d “tell Chris,” our mutual friend.

Stunned, I forwarded it to Mia. Her boyfriend Chris responded perfectly — sending Eric a sarcastic

“service invoice” in return: “Introducing you to a great woman — payment: permanent block on all platforms.”

Eric’s furious texts followed, but I blocked him before reading more. That bizarre date taught me one clear rule:

if someone insists on paying, make sure they don’t expect repayment that crosses boundaries.

I still keep the keychain he gave me — not as a memory of romance, but as a souvenir of red flags.