I thought I was ready for anything when I agreed to my first date on an expensive one restaurant. But when my companion ordered the most expensive dish on the menu and then refused to pay, I had to make a choice that tested my patience, pride and showed what really matters in dating.
At the age of 32, it seemed to me that I already knew how to recognize a disaster even before it happened.
I would like to say that with Chloe I understood everything in advance, but I really wanted the evening to go well, that I ignored all the first alarming signals.
I haven’t gone on dates for a long time. The last serious relationship ended quietly, like a candle that went out in an empty room. The months after this could not be called completely lonely.
They were just… muted. My life consisted of working days, evenings watching already familiar TV series and friends who wrote less and less because everyone was busy, married, or both at once.
I would like to say that I foresaw everything with Chloe.
My sister Erin ended up pushing me to try again. «You’re too decent a person to sit at home, Evan. Come back to the game, brother. This is not the end of the world».
One rainy Thursday, she made me download dating apps and we sat at the kitchen counter, scrolling through questionnaires and joking until my stomach hurt from laughing.
— Whoa. These women are really confident, Ev.
— And you want me to talk to one of them? — I asked, half amused, half horrified.
— Come back to the game, brother. It’s not an apocalypse, you know.
When I matched Chloe, she immediately stood out.
She was confident, pretty and answered in such a way that her messages turned out to be witter than mine. She made fun of my profile photo of me holding a fish and looking too serious for Saturday morning.
She wrote to me:
«Big catch or midlife crisis?»
I replied: «Why not both options?»
This is where it all started.
When I matched Chloe, she immediately attracted attention.
After several days of back and forth correspondence, Chloe offered to have dinner.
«Let’s do something special. Life is short… you need to enjoy it».
I remember I froze for a while before answering. I’ve already had dates where «was a little special» turned into a game of hide and seek with an account, or where the girl went to the toilet and never returned.
But this time I decided to be honest.
I needed to understand that my time and my strength would not be wasted.
After several days of light flirting, Chloe offered to meet for dinner.
So I wrote to her: «Hey, to make it clear right away: on the first date I usually share the score. It’s easier this way, and we immediately understand that on the same wavelength».
She replied less than a minute later: «Fair! No problem».
It seemed that the issue had been resolved.
«Okay, Evan, — I told myself. — Maybe this time I came across a normal».
Chloe chose the place — elegant restaurant seafood in the city center. There was soft light, calm jazz and an atmosphere where prices on the menu seemed to appear only after you squinted.
«Fair! Don’t worry».
That evening I was ironing a shirt I hadn’t worn since Christmas and rehearsing a conversation in the bathroom. I reminded myself: «You’re just dating a person, not casting in “Bachelor”».
I came first. Hostess smiled.
— Table for two, sir?
— Yes, thank you. Booking in the name Evan.
I came in advance and sat down at the bar, pretending that I was studying the wine list. Every time the door opened, I looked up, waiting for Chloe.
— Table for two, sir?
The bartender caught my eye.
— Are you waiting for someone, brother?
I nodded.
— First date.
He smiled.
— Met online?
— Is it that obvious?
— Just because you check your phone every thirty seconds, — he said, laughing and wiping the glass.
Before I could answer, a voice sounded:
— Evan?
— Are you waiting for someone, brother?
I turned, and there she stood before me: long beautiful hair, a red dress and a wide shining smile. For a second it seemed to me that the whole audience noticed her at the same time.
I jumped up, almost knocking over the bar stool.
— Hello Chloe. Easily found a place?
— Not that difficult, — she said, looking around the restaurant. — Wow, it’s very beautiful here.
I shrugged my shoulders, feeling my nerves making themselves felt again.
— Your merit. You chose him.
She laughed and took my arm when the hostess approached us.
— True. I have a talent for choosing beautiful places.
— Hello Chloe. Easy to find a restaurant?
We went to the hostess between the tables, Chloe’s heels clicking confidently on the floor. At the table she sat down first and looked around as if she was remembering every detail.
— Good place, huh? They have lobster! I adore lobster. I hope you don’t have allergies, Evan, — she said jokingly.
— There is no allergy, — I answered. — But there is slight anxiety when you see the menu.
She smiled.
— Believe me, you’ll like it here.
A waitress appeared. The badge read: Maya. She gave us the menu. Chloe barely looked into hers.
— I already know what I want, — said Chloe. — I’ll take the lobster. With butter sauce, please. And also an additional sauce separately.
— They have a lobster! I love lobster.
Maya nodded and recorded the order.
— Great choice. What about you, sir?
— Salmon, please — said I. — And there is enough water.
Chloe leaned back in her chair with her hands folded.
— So, is this your first date from Tinder?
— Not the first, but the first in a long time, — I admitted. — Do you have it?
She shrugged.
— There were several. But most men are too nervous. Or too greedy. — She smiled. — And you seem calm. I like it.
I laughed nervously.
— I try. Before that, I rehearsed a conversation with the guys.
— Most men are too nervous. Or too greedy.
She raised her eyebrow.
— Really? Then surprise me.
— Okay… I can reach my nose with my tongue.
Chloe laughed.
— It’s terrible, Evan.
— Perhaps, but the ice has melted.
She shook her head, still smiling.
— Okay, you get points for trying.
When the drinks were brought, she took out her phone.
— I hope you don’t mind. I document my gastronomic journey.
— Really? Then surprise me.
— Sure. My dish has never looked so worthy of a photo.
She took a photo, then took a photo of us.
— Smile. My friends will want proof of your existence.
I smiled.
— Tell them I survived the first round.
Chloe winked.
— Oh, it’s too early.
We clinked glasses, the hall was noisy around, and the conversation flowed so easily, as if we had already done this hundreds of times.
For a moment I thought I might have misjudged her. Maybe Chloe is just brave, not demanding.
«My friends will want proof of your existence».
We finished dinner, and when Maya removed the plates, I almost relaxed.
Then they brought the bill and put it in the middle of the table. Chloe didn’t reach out to him.
I looked at her, then at the check. Her lobster alone cost $150. If you add wine, dessert and side dishes, part of it clearly exceeded half of the total amount.
I took out the card.
— Okay. We share it as agreed, right?
Chloe leaned back, smiling as if I had missed some joke.
— I don’t cry.
I looked at her, expecting her to laugh.
— What?
Her lobster alone cost $150.
She shrugged.
— You are a man. Men pay, don’t they? This is exactly what I have always had.
My ears rang from the heat.
— But… you agreed to share the bill.
She took the phone and scrolled through the screen indifferently.
— Yes… but I didn’t think you were serious. Men don’t usually do that.
There was silence between us.
Something old and familiar woke up in me: memories of moments when I was made to feel insignificant, as if my feelings didn’t matter, as if I had to apologize for expecting honesty.
— You are a man. Men pay, don’t they?
But I kept a calm voice and tried not to retreat.
— I spoke seriously, — I said quietly.
Chloe rolled her eyes and her lips folded into a half-smile.
— Are you really going to embarrass yourself at dinner, Evan? In front of all these people?
— Why should I be ashamed that I want to stick to our agreement?
She laughed easily, almost sympathetically.
— God, how stubborn you are
Chloe rolled her eyes.
I put the fork down.
— We agreed to divide the account.
She looked in front of her as if she was looking for a way out, but did not find it.
— Well… maybe I changed my mind.
Maya walked to the table again, holding a stack of plates in one hand. It seems she immediately felt the growing tension.
— Are you okay?
Chloe smiled at her quickly.
— Everything is fine. Just a little misunderstanding with the score.
— Are you okay?
I met Maya’s gaze.
— We agreed to split the bill. Now she says she won’t pay.
Chloe snorted as she turned to Maya.
— Honestly, he’s causing a tragedy out of nowhere. Men pay for dates. That’s how it is.
Maya fell silent for a second and looked carefully at Chloe.
— Actually, I think I remember you. Were you here two weeks ago? At the same table, but with a different man?
Chloe tensed.
— What? No. It wasn’t me. — Her voice became lower.
— At the same table, but with a different man?
But Maya didn’t even blink.
— You ordered it then too lobster, right? And the conversation about the account was very similar. That evening your companion paid for his part and left. But you — no.
It became quieter at the neighboring tables. I felt like people were listening and watching.
I saw Chloe’s self-confidence falter.
— Maybe you’re wrong.
Maya shook her head.
— I’m not wrong. I remember faces. — She paused, then added: — Give me a minute. I’ll call the manager.
Chloe straightened up.
— This is not necessary.
— Maybe you’re wrong.
Maya’s voice remained calm.
— There is a need. And we have camera footage.
A minute later a man in a black shirt came up.
— Good evening, — he said, turning his gaze from one to another.
Maya quietly explained:
— She’s been here before. Same situation.
The manager nodded, then looked at Chloe.
— Madam, today you need to pay your part of the bill. In addition, you have an unpaid balance from your last visit.
Chloe’s face became empty.
— It’s funny.
He didn’t react.
— You can challenge this, but first the issue needs to be resolved before you leave restaurant.
— She was already here.
I was relieved.
— I would like to pay separately, please. And leave a tip for you, Maya.
Chloe laughed briefly and intensely.
— Are you really doing this now?
Nobody answered her.
Maya’s voice was soft but firm.
— I just want to make sure everyone is treated fairly. I’ll be back with separate bills now.
Chloe started rummaging through her bag.
— You could close this, Evan. Seriously, it’s so awkward now.
I shook my head.
— It’s not about the money, Chloe. It’s a matter of lies.
She fell silent, staring at her phone, as if she wanted to disappear.
— You both shouldn’t have made the scene.
When Maya returned, I gave her my card. Chloe also extended hers, with a tightly clenched jaw.
— I’m sorry, — said Maya not without sympathy. — But the card is rejected.
The manager stood nearby.
— You need to provide another payment method.
Chloe’s face turned pale. She started looking for another card, muttering:
— It’s just a banking problem.
Her hands were shaking when she tried again. This time the payment went through, but the damage had already been done.
She grabbed her purse, suffocating with anger and awkwardness, and all her confidence disappeared. She didn’t look at me while she took out another card.
— This card is rejected.
I looked at her, then looked at Maya.
She silently nodded to me — a little sincere gesture of kindness, which, as it turned out, I really needed.
— Don’t let it discourage you from going on dates, okay?
I smiled.
— Thank you. For everything.
Then the manager spoke:
— You know what, madam. If you cannot pay the bill, you can work it out with us at the dishwasher for the next two weeks. But I warn you: your beautiful nails may be damaged.
Chloe shuddered.
The air outside was cold, and the city lights reflected on the wet paving stones. Instead of going home, I didn’t notice how I went to Erin’s apartment. She answered the second call.
— Don’t let it discourage you from going on dates, okay?
— Hello, are you busy? — I asked.
— You have a strange voice. Was the date that terrible?
— Not terrible. Just… history. Can I get up?
Her voice softened.
— Sure! And I have ice cream.
Ten minutes later I was sitting on the kitchen stool while Erin was rummaging through the freezer.
— Well, post it, — she said, pushing a pack of ice cream and a bottle of chocolate sauce towards me. — Did she at least look like her photos or was it the case with a fake questionnaire?
— Hi, are you busy?
— Yes, it was similar. At first I even thought that the evening might turn out good.
Erin put a bowl of chocolate and pieces of strawberries in front of me.
— You say it like there’s a huge «but» the size of Texas coming next.
I smiled and told her about the date.
Erin’s eyes narrowed.
— You didn’t pay for it, did you?
— No. — I scooped up a spoon ice cream, feeling cold and relieved at the same time. — But the waitress figured it out. It turns out that Chloe has already done this.
— You didn’t pay for it, did you?
— Wait, seriously? Is she a serial lobster scammer?
I snorted.
— Something like that. Her card was rejected. Never before has an awkward silence made me so grateful.
Erin shook her head, then lightly pushed me in the shoulder.
— I’m proud of you, Ev. You’ve finally learned to put yourself first.
I smiled.
— Strange. For the first time in a long time I feel… respected. At least by yourself.
She hit her spoon on mine.
— This is the only thing that really matters. Now finish your ice cream.
We both laughed — with that same laugh that settles somewhere in our chests and makes the world a little easier.
That evening I left Erin feeling as if I had become calmer, realizing that respect, especially for myself, is never too much of a request.
— I’m proud of you, Ev. You’ve finally learned to put yourself first.
