When my friend Mia set me up with Eric, I didn’t expect much—but our first date turned out surprisingly charming. Eric showed up with flowers, a personalized gift, and perfect manners. He paid for dinner, insisting firmly, “A man pays on the first date.” I thanked him, flattered by his effort. Everything about the evening felt like something out of a romantic movie.
But the next morning, I got a text from Eric—not a sweet message, but a formal invoice. It listed “charges” like roses for a hug, dinner for a second date, and even “engaging conversation” in exchange for a compliment. At first, I thought it was a joke, but the tone and formatting made it clear: he was completely serious.
I shared it with Mia and her boyfriend Chris, who had vouched for Eric. Chris was just as shocked and decided to get creative. He made a hilarious “response invoice,” charging Eric for “a lifetime of silence” and “wasting a great woman’s time.” We sent it to Eric, who quickly fired back with angry texts, claiming I’d missed out on a “great guy.” I blocked him and didn’t look back.
Though the date started with high hopes, it ended in absurdity. It taught me a valuable lesson: generosity should never come with strings attached. And while I left the romance behind, I kept the engraved keychain—a perfect memento of the weirdest date I’ve ever been on.