When Eric insisted on paying for our first date and showed up with roses and a thoughtful little gift, I thought I had met a true gentleman. Everything about him felt like a scene from a romantic comedy, and I could already imagine my best friend Mia proudly saying, “I told you so.” She had been the one to set us up.

At first, I was hesitant about blind dates, but Mia wouldn’t back down. She reminded me that her boyfriend, Chris, vouched for Eric—and Chris was an excellent judge of character. That reassurance made me reconsider.

When I finally asked to see a picture, Mia sent one right away. Eric looked clean-cut, well-dressed, and had a warm smile. I had to admit, he was cute, and I agreed to text him and set up a date.

After a few casual messages, we planned to meet at a new Italian restaurant by the river. I arrived early, nervously checking my reflection—until I saw him standing there, just like his photo, holding a bouquet of roses.