My Date Insisted on Paying the Bill

Eric insisted on paying for our first date, arriving with roses and a thoughtful keychain engraved with a “K.” My friend Mia, who set us up, had promised he was a gentleman, and her boyfriend Chris vouched for him too. Despite my initial hesitation, I agreed to dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Eric was charming, attentive, and easy to talk to—we bonded over true crime podcasts and quirky documentaries. When the check came, he firmly covered it, declaring,

“A man always pays on the first date.” I left impressed, and he texted later asking to call soon. I said yes, thinking it was one of my best first dates ever. But the next morning, his follow-up text surprised me with an unexpected attachment.