When my best friend Mia set me up with her friend Eric, she described him as a “total gentleman.” On our first date, he certainly fit the bill—he brought roses, gifted me a personalized keychain, was charming throughout dinner, and insisted on paying the bill with the classic line, “A man pays on the first date.” I left feeling like I’d just had the perfect evening.

The next morning, expecting a sweet follow-up message, I was shocked to find an actual invoice instead. It was professionally formatted and included bizarre charges like a hug for the bouquet, a coffee date for the keychain, and holding hands next time as repayment for dinner. It ended with a threat: if I didn’t comply, he’d tell Chris—his friend and Mia’s boyfriend.

Still reeling, I forwarded the message to Mia, who was equally horrified. She immediately involved Chris, and the three of us decided Eric needed to be called out. Chris responded with a fake “revenge invoice” of his own—billing Eric for the “privilege” of sitting across from me and warning him about public humiliation if he didn’t back off.

Eric didn’t take it well. He fired off a string of angry texts, saying I was missing out on a “great guy.” I just sent a thumbs-up emoji and blocked him, cutting the drama short.

Later that night, Mia called me, still cracking up over how absurd the whole situation had become. She apologized for the setup, but I wasn’t upset.

Eric had shown his true colors early, and I was grateful to avoid further entanglement. What could’ve been a dating disaster became a hilarious story.

Now, I’ve got a legendary tale to tell: the guy who sent an actual invoice for a first date.