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“I’ve got it,” he said confidently, waving my hand away.
I thanked him, smiling, thinking how refreshing it was to be with someone who didn’t make dinner feel like a negotiation.
At that moment, I had no idea that paying for the meal was only the beginning.
The Comment That Changed Everything
As we stood up to leave, he leaned in casually and said, “So, since I paid tonight, maybe you can come back to my place?”
I laughed nervously, assuming he was joking. He wasn’t.
When I politely declined, explaining that I liked taking things slow, his expression shifted. The warmth vanished, replaced by something cold and irritated.
“Well,” he said, lowering his voice, “then you should probably Venmo me your half.”
I froze.
From Gentleman to Stranger
At first, I thought he was still joking. But then he pulled out his phone and opened the app.
“I mean,” he added, “it’s only fair, right?”
The man who had insisted on paying just minutes earlier now stood there, visibly annoyed, waiting for reimbursement—because I wouldn’t go home with him.
People were walking past us. The hostess glanced over, sensing tension. I felt embarrassed, angry, and strangely hurt all at once.
Without saying another word, I sent the money. Not because I owed him—but because I wanted the moment to end.
