Navigating the ups and downs of dating can often feel like trying to thread a needle in a dark room. Every decision counts, and it’s tricky to figure out the best way forward. Today’s story is about how being late ended a first date before it could even begin.

Sharing His Side of the Story

I had arranged a first date with a woman I met online. We decided to meet for coffee at 2 p.m., and I showed up right on time. At 2:10 p.m., she texted me asking if I was already at the cafe. I replied affirmatively. She then mentioned she was still at home but would leave soon and be there in about 20 minutes.

Her message made it clear: she waited to confirm I had arrived before she even left her house. This rubbed me the wrong way. I took a chance and arrived as scheduled—why couldn’t she do the same? Was I wrong to feel this way?

I sipped on my coffee and eventually left at 2:30 p.m. She still hadn’t shown up. At 2:45 p.m., I got a text from her asking where I was. I responded, “I finished my coffee and left at 2:30 because you still weren’t there as you had promised.”

Her reply was a barrage of angry messages, criticizing me for how I handled the whole situation. She said I should have informed her I was leaving, among other things.

Is it really fair for women to expect men to wait 45 minutes for them, especially when the delay seems intentional to make the man wait? It felt like a game or a test to me, and from my perspective, she failed. I’d genuinely love to hear what women think about this situation.