When my best friend Mia insisted on setting me up with her boyfriend’s friend, I hesitated. Blind dates weren’t my thing, but she promised he was polite and dependable. His name was Eric, and from our first messages he seemed genuinely interested—thoughtful questions, full sentences, nothing pushy. After a week of chatting, he suggested dinner at a well-known Italian restaurant downtown.
The date began smoothly. Eric arrived early with a bouquet of roses, dressed sharply and acting almost old-fashioned in a sweet way. He pulled out my chair, complimented my dress, and even gave me a small engraved keychain. Conversation over dinner flowed easily, touching on travel, work, and awkward dating stories.
