12: Larissa

Larissa, fresh from a shower and dreading the presence of her mother Nancy’s new guy, discovers it is actually Mike in the kitchen fixing a leak. Mike is warm and thoughtful—bringing flowers, petting Woofarine, and diving under the sink with his tools—immediately easing Larissa’s anxiety after his earlier “I love you.”

As Mike works, Larissa reflects on the gulf between their lives: her embarrassment over the rundown apartment, the constant calculations of poverty, and Mike’s ease and privilege, symbolized by his upscale, inherited comforts like expensive hand soap. Mike finishes the repair and quietly addresses the earlier confession, assuring Larissa there’s no pressure and that he won’t rush her.

Nancy returns and pushes for a fancy steakhouse despite Larissa’s objections. Mike insists it’s fine, and they go. In the upscale setting, Larissa orders cheaply out of guilt, while Nancy orders a filet, multiple appetizers, desserts, and coffee. Mike remains accommodating, deflecting discomfort with old-fashioneds and encouraging Larissa to get what she wants.

When the bill arrives, Mike won’t let Larissa see it, but his card is declined. The moment starkly undercuts Larissa’s assumptions about his financial security, reframes the evening’s dynamics, and foreshadows potential complications for their relationship and for Mike’s stability.