8: Larissa

Larissa waits at a park for a group walk with Mike, Chris, Jesse, and Woofarine, but Mike is late and not answering. Chris arrives, and they learn Jesse canceled due to a flat tire. Mike finally calls sounding off, says he has a migraine, gives route directions, and urges them to go without him.

Larissa and Chris choose to walk the loop anyway for Woofarine’s sake and the nice weather. They joke about Chris’s “fanny pack,” Woofarine’s pantry raid, and co-parenting the dog, establishing an easy, teasing rapport.

As they hike through blooming spring trails, they agree Chris will keep Woofarine, with Larissa continuing to help. They banter about missed puppuccinos and dog-bath mohawks, further cementing their shared responsibility and camaraderie.

Larissa shares her many side hustles, including pet-sitting an emotional-support pig and making “snackle boxes,” and admits the lingering debt from her father and her burnout with waitressing. Chris suggests higher-paying serving but she wants a new path; he explains choosing pharmacy over medicine to help people through science.

After a stop at a Porta Potty and water refill, their comfortable silence underscores their compatibility. Chris requests chicken and dumplings, a dish tied to his mother. By the end of the loop, Larissa is glad she skipped babysitting to come, and their bond has quietly deepened despite Mike’s absence.