When Eric insisted on covering the cost of our first date, I thought I had found a true gentleman. He showed up with a bouquet of roses, a thoughtful little gift, and engaging conversation that flowed effortlessly. It felt like a scene straight out of a romantic comedy, and I could almost hear my best friend, Mia, smugly saying, \u201cI told you so,\u201d since she had set this up.<\/p>\n
I had my reservations when she first suggested it. \u201cCome on, Kelly, just trust me. Eric is such a gentleman. You\u2019ll love him,\u201d she had said excitedly over the phone while I rummaged through my closet, trying to pick an outfit.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve never set me up before,\u201d I pointed out. \u201cWhat makes you think you know my type?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mia was undeterred. \u201cBecause I know you better than anyone! Plus, Chris thinks he\u2019s great. They\u2019ve been friends for years.\u201d<\/p>\n
That gave me pause. Chris, Mia\u2019s boyfriend, had a knack for reading people. He wouldn\u2019t hype someone up unless he genuinely believed in them. If he thought Eric was worth a shot, maybe I should give it a try.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I sighed. \u201cAt least send me a picture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seconds later, my phone pinged. I opened the message and scanned the image with curiosity. Eric looked just like his photo\u2014clean-cut, well-dressed, and sporting a warm smile. Not bad at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d I admitted. \u201cHe\u2019s cute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mia squealed in delight. \u201cText him! Set it up! You won\u2019t regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After exchanging a few casual messages, I agreed to meet Eric for dinner at a new Italian restaurant by the river\u2014fancy but not overly intimidating. The kind of place where first dates could either be a romantic success or an awkward disaster.<\/p>\n
I arrived five minutes early, nervously checking my reflection in my phone camera as I waited near the entrance. That\u2019s when I spotted him. My heart raced a little. He looked just as good in person\u2014attractive in a polished, business-casual way. But what surprised me was the bouquet of roses he held.<\/p>\n
These weren\u2019t cheap grocery store flowers; they were from a florist, tied with a ribbon.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must be Kelly,\u201d he said, flashing that same warm smile. \u201cThese are for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, thank you,\u201d I replied, pleasantly surprised. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I\u2019d start the night off right,\u201d he said smoothly.<\/p>\n
But that wasn\u2019t all.<\/p>\n
From his jacket pocket, he pulled out a small gift box tied with a neat cyan bow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d I asked, raising an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a little something. Open it,\u201d he encouraged.<\/p>\n
Inside was a sleek silver keychain with the letter \u201cK\u201d engraved on it. Subtle, personalized, and genuinely thoughtful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked Mia what you might like,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
At this point, I was impressed. Flowers and a gift on a first date? He was either incredibly thoughtful or a master of first impressions. Either way, I wasn\u2019t complaining.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really nice of you,\u201d I said sincerely. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric continued his gentlemanly demeanor throughout the evening. He pulled out my chair, maintained eye contact, and listened intently as I talked about my work as a graphic designer. He even remembered little details from our texts\u2014my favorite books, my weekend hobbies, and even a casual comment I had made about my brother\u2019s dog.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what made you agree to this setup?\u201d he asked after we placed our orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cMia can be very persuasive,\u201d I laughed. \u201cAnd Chris vouched for you, which is rare.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChris and I go way back,\u201d Eric said. \u201cWe met in college. He\u2019s always been a stand-up guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conversation flowed effortlessly from there. We discovered a shared interest in true crime podcasts and a fascination with documentaries about unusual subcultures. He shared amusing stories about his job as a marketing manager, and I found myself thinking this might be the best first date I\u2019d ever had.<\/p>\n
Then the check arrived.<\/p>\n
I instinctively reached for my purse.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d Eric said firmly, placing his card down before I could even unzip my bag. \u201cA man always pays on the first date.\u201d<\/p>\n
His tone surprised me. It wasn\u2019t just polite; it felt like an unbreakable rule.<\/p>\n
I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. \u201cOkay, if you insist. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
As we walked out together, he asked if he could call me soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like that,\u201d I replied\u2014and I genuinely meant it.<\/p>\n
He gave me a friendly yet interested hug, and I drove home thinking that this was one of the most amazing first dates I\u2019d ever experienced.<\/p>\n
Then came the text message.<\/p>\n
The next morning, I woke up to a notification from Eric. My sleepy brain expected something sweet like, \u201cHad a great time last night.\u201d Instead, there was an attachment.<\/p>\n
Curious<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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