When my best friend Mia insisted I meet her boyfriend’s friend, I was skeptical. Blind dates weren’t really my thing, but Mia promised he was polite, thoughtful, and dependable. His name was Eric, and even from our first messages, he seemed genuinely interested—asking thoughtful questions, texting in full sentences, and never being pushy. After a week of chatting, he suggested dinner at a popular Italian spot downtown.
The evening started pleasantly. Eric arrived early with roses, wore a crisp button-down, and even pulled out my chair. He gave me a small keychain engraved with my initial, and our conversation flowed effortlessly—covering travel, work, and funny past dating stories. When the check came, he waved it off. “A man pays on the first date,” he said. Classic, harmless gesture. He even walked me to my car and waited until I drove off.
The next morning, though, I found an email titled “Invoice for Last Night.” At first, I laughed, thinking it was a joke—but it wasn’t. The email itemized charges for dinner, flowers, the keychain, and even “emotional labor,” each with absurd repayment terms. At the bottom, it warned: “Failure to comply may result in Chris hearing about it”—Chris being Mia’s boyfriend. I immediately called Mia, who reacted fast: “Oh my god. He’s insane. Don’t respond.” She then looped in Chris, and together they sent Eric a playful “counter-invoice,” jokingly penalizing him for making someone uncomfortable and acting entitled.