She was glad her date waited despite her being an hour late to dinner — his 'punishment' when the bill came ensured there wouldn’t be a second date
First dates come with enough nerves, and arriving late can add another layer of discomfort. Content creator Nico Slater experienced this after spending the day with a visiting friend and underestimating how long it would take her to reach a restaurant. She arrived an hour late and felt guilty about keeping her date waiting, but she was surprised to find that he had not left. She apologized and hoped they could still enjoy the evening together. However, the date took an uncomfortable turn when the bill arrived. In an Instagram video posted on Friday, November 6, 2026, under the handle @eaudenics, Slater explained how the evening changed her opinion of the man she had agreed to meet.
Slater had messaged him to say she was running late, but admitted that she had not kept him updated during the delay. When she finally arrived, he greeted her with a hug and invited her to sit down. He then told her she should pay for his dinner as "penance" for arriving late. The content creator initially thought he was joking, but when the bill arrived, he gestured toward her and expected her to pay for his meal. The men sitting at the next table appeared shocked, with one telling her, "That is not your guy."
The date had already been uncomfortable because he barely asked about her and spoke at length about an ex who wanted princess treatment. He also kept insisting that she record the date and share it online. Despite his behavior, he described himself as a gentleman and claimed he was teaching his son the same values because he was a CEO. The situation became worse when they were preparing to leave.
The man tried to kiss Slater twice, but she moved away each time. On his third attempt, he held her hands and tried to make her kiss him, forcing her to clearly tell him no. She then confronted him about his behavior and explained how uncomfortable the evening had made her feel before blocking him. The incident also brings attention to expectations around who should pay on a first date. A survey found that 72% of Americans believe men should pay when dating women, with men more likely than women to agree (78% compared with 68%). Additionally, 65% agreed that the person who initiated the date should pay the bill. Meanwhile, 57% said the higher-earning partner should pay more often on dates, while 43% disagreed.
A disagreement over the bill can make an otherwise pleasant date uncomfortable. This is what another woman experienced when her date arrived 40 minutes late and then made no effort to pay for the food she had ordered. The man had told her he would be late and suggested she order something if she was hungry. She chose a small appetizer and waited for him, but when he finally arrived, he did not order anything. She even offered to share her food with him, hoping they could still enjoy the evening.
She tried using a card she knew would be declined, hoping he would offer to cover the bill. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to go in your car and see if you have another one?" He eventually agreed to pay, saying, "You know? I got it this time." However, he handed the waitress some crumpled cash, which further put her off. Although he continued showing interest in meeting again, she had already decided to end the date.
For more interesting dating stories, follow @eaudenics on Instagram.