My Date Picked Up the Tab—Then Sent an “Invoice”: A Modern Dating Red Flag You Shouldn’t Ignore

Our conversation was easy. We talked travel and work, the shared comedy of terrible app experiences, and the loss of old-school movie theaters you could enjoy without taking out a small loan. When the check arrived, I reached for my wallet out of habit.

Eric waved me off. “I’ve got it,” he said, sliding his card to the waiter with a practiced flourish. Old-fashioned, perhaps, but generous. I didn’t argue.

Outside, he offered his arm, walked me to my car, and waited until my engine turned over before heading to his. No pushy invitations, no lingering awkwardness—just a clean, pleasant goodnight. Driving home, I texted Mia: You might be right about this one.

The Morning Curveball

The next morning, I opened my email expecting a warm, simple note—something like “Had a great time.” Instead, I found a message with the subject line: Invoice for Last Night.

At first, I thought it was a joke. Maybe a meme, a playful nod to the cost of dinner. But the attachment was styled like a corporate bill, complete with logo and itemized “charges.” Dinner, noted as “covered.”Continue reading…