The Date That Came With a Bill
My brother Marcus insisted he’d found the “perfect guy” for me: Andy, a pickleball player who was courteous, smart, and unattached. Skeptical but curious, I agreed to one date.
Andy arrived with wildflowers, held doors, and genuinely listened during dinner. He seemed perfect—attentive, kind, and without quirks. By the end of the night, I even let him drive me home, breaking my usual first-date safety rule.
The next morning, my phone buzzed. It was a PayPal request from Andy—an itemized invoice for the previous evening: gas $4.75, car depreciation $3.50, parking $20, cleaning fee $9. Total: $37.25.
I laughed until I cried, then sent back $50 with a sarcastic note: “$37.25 for costs + $12.75 tip for chivalry. Five stars! – Sarah.” Then I blocked him.
Marcus confirmed the absurdity: Andy had told his pickleball friends he was creating an “equitable” system for dating, billing women for emotional labor and safe transport. They quickly kicked him out.
The story went viral when another woman shared a similar invoice on TikTok, sparking a conversation about entitled men who treat dating as a transaction. Women shared countless stories: itemized meals, rides, and even texts, showing Andy wasn’t unique—just the most extreme example.
Lesson learned: trust your gut, and never, ever date a man who invoices you for opening a car door.
