But that wasn’t all.
He extended into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small gift box tied with a cyan bow.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Just a little something. Open it,” he supported.
Inside was a sleek silver keychain with the letter “K” engraved on it. It was graceful and individualised, something that demanded thought.
“Something just for you,” he said. “I asked Mia what you might like.”
I was honestly impressed. Flowers and a thoughtful gift on a first date? This man was clearly making a statement. Either he was interested, or he was the king of first impressions.
“This is really nice of you,” I said. “Thank you.”
Eric continued his gentlemanly routine without missing a beat. He opened the door, pulled out my chair, and kept steady eye contact throughout our conversation.
“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 poured naturally from there.
We explored shared interests in true crime podcasts and documentaries about strange subcultures.
For illustrative purpose only
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.
“A man pays on the first date.”
His tone amazed me a little. It wasn’t just gallant, but final, almost like he was reciting an unbreakable rule.
I paused for half a second, then shouted. “Okay, if you insist. Thank you.”
I wasn’t about to argue over a free meal, especially after such a pleasant evening. We walked out together, and he asked if he could call me again soon.
“I’d like that,” I replied.
He hugged me goodbye (a perfect balance of friendly and interested without being creepy).
The next morning, I woke up to a notification from Eric. My sleepy brain predicted a cute “had a great time” text, but instead, I saw an attachment.
I made coffee and then returned to bed. Curious, I opened it, expecting maybe a photo from the restaurant or something similarly harmless.
At the top, in bold professional typeface:
CONTINUE READING ON THE NEXT PAGE 🥰💕
