A man named Eric asked me out after we had been talking for a few weeks.
He was a teacher, funny, intelligent, and seemed genuinely thoughtful.
When he asked where I wanted to eat, I mentioned my favorite restaurant but warned him it was expensive.
He insisted.
That night, we ordered appetizers, cocktails, steaks, and dessert. Conversation flowed easily, and by the end of dinner, I honestly thought there would be a second date.
The bill came to a little over $500.
Eric immediately handed over his card.
Then the server returned with the receipt.
Eric looked down and frowned.
“Why is gratuity suggested at twenty percent?” he asked.
The server politely explained that it was only a recommendation.
Eric laughed.
Then, right in front of her, he drew a line through the tip section and wrote $0.
“She already gets paid,” he said to me. “Why should I reward someone for doing her job?”
The server’s face fell.
What bothered me most was that she had been wonderful all evening.
Before leaving, I excused myself, found her near the front, and quietly left cash for the tip.
Eric never noticed.
Outside, he asked when he could see me again.
I smiled and said, “I’ll text you.”
I didn’t.
I blocked him before I reached my car.
The expensive dinner impressed me.
The way he treated someone he didn’t need to impress told me much more.
