When my friend Mia set me up with Eric, I didn’t expect much — but he surprised me with roses, a thoughtful gift, and perfect manners. We laughed over dinner,

bonded over podcasts, and when the check came, he insisted on paying: “A man pays on the first date.” I thought I’d met a true gentleman.

The next morning, instead of a sweet text, Eric sent me a professionally formatted “invoice” — not for money,

but for affection. Each “charge” matched a demand: a hug for the 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 the message to Mia. Her boyfriend Chris was stunned — and replied with his own “service invoice” to Eric, charging for “introducing

you 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, make sure they don’t expect repayment in ways that don’t

belong in a relationship. The keychain he gave me now sits on my shelf — a souvenir from my strangest date.