The start of the actual date was truly picture-perfect. Eric arrived ahead of schedule, which spoke volumes about his respect for time. He held a beautiful bouquet of roses and was dressed in a sharp, crisp button-down shirt. “These are for you,” he announced, offering a smile that, at the time, felt very sincere and practiced, suggesting he valued good manners. Once we were inside the restaurant, he continued to display traditional courtesy: he pulled out my chair, offered a sincere compliment on my dress, and even presented me with a small, personalized keychain that had my initial neatly engraved on the metal.
I remember distinctly thinking to myself, Wow, maybe Mia was right. He seemed to genuinely understand the importance of making an effort. During the meal, our conversation was lively and flowed with ease. We covered many interesting topics, including travel plans, professional lives, the universal awkwardness of bad dating app experiences, and our shared feeling of nostalgia for movie theaters that weren’t exorbitantly expensive.Continue reading…
