“They have lobster! I adore lobster.”
Maya nodded, scribbling it down. “Excellent choice. And you, sir?”
“Uh, the salmon, please,” I said. “And water’s fine.”
Chloe leaned back, folding her hands. “So, this is your first Tinder date?”
“Not my first, but it’s my first in a while,” I admitted. “What about you?”
She shrugged. “A few. But most guys are too nervous. Or too cheap.” She smirked. “But you seem relaxed. I like that.”
I laughed nervously. “I’m trying my best. I was practicing small talk earlier.”
“Most guys are too nervous. Or too cheap.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? Impress me, then.”
“Okay… I can touch my nose with my tongue.”
Chloe burst out laughing. “That’s terrible, Evan.”
“Maybe, but it broke the ice.”
She shook her head, still smiling. “Alright, you get points for effort.”
As our drinks arrived, she pulled out her phone. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m documenting my food journey.”
“Is that right? Impress me, then.”
“Go for it. My plate’s never looked this good.”
She snapped a photo, then one of us. “Smile. My friends will demand proof you exist.”
I grinned. “Tell them I survived the first round.”
Chloe winked. “Oh, it’s early yet.”
We clinked glasses, the room buzzing, conversation flowing like we’d done this a hundred times.
For a moment, I thought maybe I’d misjudged her. Maybe Chloe was just bold, not entitled.
“My friends will demand proof you exist.”
We finished eating, and I was almost relaxed by the time Maya cleared the plates.
Then the check arrived, placed in the middle of the table. Chloe did not reach for it.
I glanced at her, then at the bill. Her lobster alone was $150. Add in wine, dessert, and sides, her share was well over half.
I pulled out my card. “Alright. We’ll just split it like we said, right?”
Chloe leaned back, smiling like she was in on a joke I had missed. “I’m not paying.”
I stared, half-expecting her to laugh. “What?”
Her lobster alone was $150.
She shrugged. “You’re the man. Men pay, don’t they? That’s how I’ve always done it.”
My ears felt hot. “But… you agreed to split.”
She picked up her phone, scrolling absently. “Yeah… but I didn’t think you’d actually mean it. Men never do.”
A beat of silence stretched between us.
Something old and familiar rose up in me, memories of being made to feel small, like my feelings did not matter, like I could apologize for expecting fairness.
“You’re the man. Men pay, don’t they?”
But I kept my voice even, willing myself not to back down.
“I meant it,” I said quietly.
Chloe rolled her eyes, lips curled into a half-smile. “You’re really going to embarrass yourself over dinner, Evan? In front of all these people?”
“Why should I be embarrassed for wanting what we agreed on?”
She gave a light, almost pitying laugh. “Goodness, you’re stubborn.”
Chloe rolled her eyes.
I set my fork down. “We agreed to split.”
She looked past me, like searching for an exit, but found none.
“Well… maybe I changed my mind.”
Maya approached again, a stack of plates balanced in one hand. She seemed to sense the tension simmering.
“Is everything alright over here?”
Chloe flashed her a quick smile. “We’re fine. It’s just a little miscommunication about the bill.”
“Is everything alright over here?”
I met Maya’s gaze. “We agreed to split the check. Now she’s saying she won’t.”
Chloe huffed, turning toward Maya. “Honestly, he’s making a big deal out of nothing. Men pay for dates. That’s just how it is.”
Maya paused, looking at Chloe a moment longer. “Actually, I think I remember you. Weren’t you here two weeks ago? Same table, different guy?”
Chloe stiffened. “What? No. That wasn’t me.” Her voice dropped.
“Same table, different guy?”
But Maya did not bat an eyelid. “You ordered the lobster, right? And there was a pretty similar conversation about the bill. That night, your date paid his half and left. You didn’t.”
The table around us went quiet. I could feel people listening now, watching.
I watched Chloe’s bravado falter. “Maybe you’re mistaken.”
Maya shook her head. “I’m not. I remember faces.” She paused, then added, “Give me a moment. I’m going to get my manager.”
Chloe straightened. “That’s not necessary.”
“Maybe you’re mistaken.”
Maya’s tone stayed calm. “It is. And we have camera footage to prove it.”
A man in a black shirt stepped over a moment later. “Good evening,” he said, glancing between us.
Maya spoke quietly. “She’s been here before. Same situation.”
The manager nodded, then looked at Chloe. “Ma’am, we’ll need you to settle your portion tonight. And there is also an outstanding balance from your previous visit.”
Chloe’s face drained. “That’s ridiculous.”
He didn’t react. “You’re welcome to dispute it, but it will need to be handled before you leave.”
“She’s been here before.”
Relief washed through me. “I’d like to pay individually, please. And I’d like to leave a tip for you, Maya.”
Chloe let out a tight laugh. “You’re seriously doing this right now?”
No one answered her.
Maya’s voice was soft but steady. “I just want to make sure everyone’s treated fairly. I’ll be back with the checks.”
Chloe started rummaging in her purse. “You could’ve just covered it, Evan. Seriously, this is so awkward now.”
I shook my head. “It’s not the money, Chloe. It’s the lie.”
She fell silent, staring at her phone like she wanted to vanish.
