When my best friend Mia insisted I meet her boyfriend’s friend, I hesitated. Blind dates weren’t my thing, but she promised he was polite and dependable. His name was Eric, and from our first messages he seemed genuinely interested—thoughtful questions, full sentences, never pushy. After a week of chatting, he suggested dinner at a well-known Italian restaurant downtown.
The date started smoothly. Eric arrived early with a bouquet of roses, dressed sharply, and acted sweetly old-fashioned. He pulled out my chair, complimented my dress, and even gave me a small engraved keychain. Conversation flowed easily—travel, work, awkward dating stories.
When the bill came, he waved it off confidently: “A man pays on the first date.” Traditional, but not alarming. He walked me to my car and waited until I drove away. The night felt promising.
