I went on a date with a man my friend had set me up with. He arrived carrying flowers—not a casual grocery store bouquet, but real roses. Dinner was flawless. He was charming, held doors open, and pulled out my chair. When the bill arrived, I instinctively reached for my wallet. That turned out to be a mistake. “Absolutely not,” he said, sliding his card forward. “A man pays on the first date.” I left that evening thinking it had been one of the best first dates I’d ever had—until the next morning, when I received a message I never anticipated.

Instead of a flirtatious follow-up or a simple request to see me again, his text contained an itemized list of everything he had spent the night before. Next to each expense was a lighthearted note: roses—worth it; dinner—still worth it; valet parking—worth it again. At the bottom, he added, “Cost of meeting someone who actually laughs at my jokes—priceless. But if you’re open to it, I’d love to take you out again.” He wasn’t asking for repayment or setting expectations; it was simply his quirky way of expressing humor and sincerity. I read it twice, surprised by how such an unexpected message made me smile.