When Eric insisted on paying for our first date, I thought I had met a true gentleman. He arrived with a bouquet of roses, a sweet little gift, and charming conversation that seemed to flow effortlessly. Every romantic comedy cliché was unfolding before my eyes. I could already hear my best friend, Mia, smugly telling me, “I told you so.” She had set this up, after all,

I had my doubts when she first suggested it. “Come on, Kelly, just trust me. Eric is such a gentleman. You’ll love him,” she had gushed over the phone while I rifled through my closet, trying to decide what to wear.”You’ve never set me up before,” I pointed out. “What makes you think you know my type?”