Mia set me up on a blind date, and to my surprise, Eric showed up with roses and a small engraved keychain bearing my initial. He was polite, funny, and thoughtful throughout dinner, even insisting on paying the bill.
I went home feeling hopeful, thinking it might actually turn into something meaningful. But the next morning, instead of a sweet follow-up message, I received an “invoice” from him — a list of itemized charges for the flowers, gift, compliments, and even “holding the car door,” ending with a suggested “repayment” in the form of a second date.
Unsure whether it was a joke or a red flag, I forwarded it to Mia, who showed her boyfriend. He sent Eric a sarcastic invoice in return, and the situation fizzled. I kept the keychain — not as a memory of romance, but as proof that sometimes the strangest dates make the best stories.