When you’ve been single long enough, every new date brings a mix of hope and caution. That spark of “maybe this time” is hard to ignore — especially when the first impression seems almost too good to be true.

That’s exactly how I felt when I met Eric.

He was charming, well-spoken, even brought flowers — real ones, not some last-minute grocery store bouquet. He pulled out my chair, opened doors, asked thoughtful questions, and insisted on paying for our meal.

For a moment, I wondered if I’d stumbled onto one of those rare stories — the kind your married friends always swear only happens to other people.

But when I received his follow-up message the next morning, that sweet beginning twisted into something truly unforgettable… and not in a good way.

The Setup: “He’s a Total Gentleman!”
It all began when my best friend Mia decided to play matchmaker.

Now, Mia is the kind of friend who means well but hasn’t exactly earned her stripes in the matchmaking department. Still, she was persistent.

“He’s a total gentleman, Kelly,” she said one evening while I was digging through my closet for something to wear. “Sweet, funny, thoughtful — and cute, too. You’ll love him.”

“You’ve never set me up before,” I replied, pulling out a blouse that hadn’t seen daylight in two seasons. “What makes you so sure this guy’s my type?”

“Because I know you better than anyone,” she said, undeterred. “And Chris says he’s a great guy.”

That made me pause. Chris — Mia’s longtime boyfriend — was a pretty sharp judge of character. If he was vouching for this Eric guy, maybe it wasn’t a total shot in the dark.

“Alright,” I said with a sigh. “Show me a picture, at least.”

Moments later, my phone buzzed. The man on the screen wasn’t bad-looking: clean-cut, sharp dresser, friendly eyes.

“Okay… he’s cute,” I admitted.

“Told you!” Mia said. “Go on — text him. You won’t regret it.”

The First Date: Flowers, Gifts, and Flawless Manners
After a few polite messages, Eric and I agreed to meet for dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant by the river. Nothing flashy, but romantic enough to suggest he was serious.

I arrived a few minutes early and was double-checking my lipstick in my phone camera when I saw him walking up — tall, neatly dressed, and holding… roses. Not just a handful, either. A full bouquet, professionally wrapped with ribbon and care.

“You must be Kelly,” he said with a warm smile. “These are for you.”

It was such a throwback gesture that I nearly blushed. I thanked him, and then — as if that wasn’t enough — he pulled a tiny gift box from his coat pocket.

Inside was a silver keychain, engraved with the letter K. Delicate, elegant, and clearly chosen with thought.

“I asked Mia what you might like,” he said. “Just a little something.”

I was taken aback in the best way. What kind of man brings roses and a personalized gift on a first date?

Over dinner, he continued the gentlemanly routine — opening doors, asking about my interests, listening attentively. He made me laugh more than once, especially while describing his job in marketing and the quirky coworkers he dealt with daily.

We found common ground in crime podcasts and weird documentaries — the kind of icebreakers that let you relax and just be yourself.

When the check arrived, I instinctively reached for my purse.

Eric waved me off firmly. “Absolutely not,” he said. “A man pays on the first date.”

His tone was… final. Like he was laying down a rule from a sacred dating handbook.

“All right,” I said with a chuckle. “If you insist.”

He walked me to my car, gave me a warm hug — friendly, not pushy — and asked if he could call me again soon.

“I’d like that,” I said honestly.

I drove home thinking, Maybe this really is how good things begin.

The Morning After: A Message That Turned Everything Upside Down
The next morning, I woke up to a notification from Eric. My half-awake brain assumed it was a sweet follow-up: “Had a great time!” or maybe a picture from dinner.

Instead, I saw a PDF attachment. Odd, but I opened it.

What I found made me drop my coffee.

DATE NIGHT INVOICE — ONE OUTSTANDING BALANCE

Yes, you read that right. An invoice.

Underneath the bold title was a breakdown of “services” rendered during our date… each with a required form of “payment.” And no, not in dollars.

Here’s a sample:

Rose Bouquet: One hug
Custom Keychain Gift: One coffee date within the week
Opening the Car Door: A lovely selfie together
Pulling Out the Chair: Holding hands on the next date
Active Listening & Compliments: A compliment on his appearance
Full Dinner Paid: A second date with no excuses
But the real kicker?

At the bottom, in bold:

Payment is due in full. No refunds. Failure to comply may result in this outstanding balance being sent to collections (Chris will hear about it).

My jaw dropped. He was serious.

Group Chat Justice — and the Best Comeback of the Year
Stunned, I sent the invoice to Mia. Her response came fast.

“WHAT. THE. HECK. I’M SHOWING THIS TO CHRIS RIGHT NOW.”

Five minutes later, my phone rang. Chris was laughing so hard he could barely speak.

“Kelly… I’ve known this guy for years. Never in a million years did I think he’d pull something like this. We have to respond.”

And respond he did.

Chris whipped up a matching invoice, complete with fake legal language, bold headers, and brutal sarcasm:

SERVICE INVOICE — AMOUNT DUE: A LIFETIME OF SILENCE

Introducing You to a Gorgeous Woman: Permanent Block
Convincing Her You Were a Gentleman: Therapy & Reflection
Sitting at the Same Table as Her: Apology to All Women You’ve Dated
Not Posting This Online: A Gift You Don’t Deserve
Payment Due: Immediately. Failure to comply may result in public humiliation. Cheers!

“Sending it now,” Chris said gleefully.

Moments later, Eric’s angry texts started rolling in.

“Really mature, guys.”

“I was just trying to be clear about expectations.”

“You just missed out on a GREAT guy.”

I didn’t reply. Just sent a thumbs-up emoji and blocked him.

Lessons Learned from the Weirdest Date of My Life
That night, Mia called, still laughing.

“I’m so sorry, Kel. I thought he was normal. I really did.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Honestly? We got one heck of a story out of it.”

And that’s the truth.

Dating after 60 isn’t always romantic candlelight and strolls by the lake. Sometimes, it’s weird. Sometimes, it’s downright hilarious.

But it always teaches you something.

Here’s what I learned:

If a man insists on paying, make sure he doesn’t expect a payment plan in return.
Watch out for dating red flags, even when they’re wrapped in roses.
And finally — never underestimate the healing power of a good laugh, a great friend, and a perfectly petty comeback.
Oh, and the keychain? I kept it. Not as a keepsake from Eric, but as a reminder of the strangest, funniest, and most unexpected “first and last date” I’ve ever had.