I agreed to a blind date only to stop my friend’s relentless encouragement, and at first, it seemed like a win. Eric was early, polite, brought roses, asked thoughtful questions, and even gave me a small personalized gift. I left thinking maybe romance wasn’t dead after all.
The next morning shattered that illusion. Eric emailed me a detailed, itemized invoice for the date—dinner costs, flowers requiring a hug in return, a coffee date as repayment for the gift, and a demand for future affection labeled “emotional labor.”
At the bottom was a thinly veiled threat involving my friend’s boyfriend. It wasn’t humor or quirkiness; it was control wrapped in charm. I sent it to my friend, who immediately told me to block him—and then let her boyfriend handle the rest.
Now it’s my go-to worst-date story, but the lesson stuck. Red flags don’t always look obvious. Sometimes they arrive with roses, manners… and a PDF attachment reminding you that real kindness never comes with a bill.
