Here’s a little pick-me-up
Getting stood up on a date has to be one of the worst feelings ever. Imagine spending hours choosing the right outfit and traveling to the restaurant, only to find that the person who was supposed to meet you there decided you weren’t the time and effort. That’s gotta sting even years later.
And as a restaurant waiter, the OP had seen a particularly sad case of man-gets-stood-up. After 30 minutes, it was clear to him and the poor fella that she had no intention of coming. Even though V-Day is a restaurant’s most crowded night of the year, the OP still let the guy sit down and have a few drinks, on the house, of course.