“This is really nice of you,” I said, genuinely touched. “Thank you.”

Eric continued his gentlemanly routine without missing a beat. He opened the door, pulled out my chair, and maintained steady eye contact throughout our conversation.

He asked thoughtful questions about my job as a graphic designer, remembered details about my family that I’d only mentioned in passing during our texts, and made me feel like the most interesting person in the room.

“So what made you agree to this setup?” he asked after we’d ordered our meals.

“Mia can be very persuasive,” I laughed. “Plus, she and Chris both vouched for you, which rarely happens.”

“They’re a great couple,” he nodded. “Chris and I go way back to college. He’s always been a stand-up guy.”

The conversation flowed naturally from there.

We discovered shared interests in true crime podcasts and documentaries about strange subcultures.

He told amusing stories about his job as a marketing manager, and I caught myself thinking this might be the best first date I’d ever had.

When the check came, I reached for my purse.

“Absolutely not,” Eric said firmly, putting his card down on the check presenter before I could even open my purse. “A man pays on the first date.”

His tone surprised me a little. It wasn’t just polite, but final, almost like he was reciting an unbreakable rule.