18: Larissa

Larissa floats on the lake with Becca and Samantha, having tied their tubes together to get distance from the dock. Mike cannonballs and drinks loudly, while Chris, Jesse, and Xavier sit nearby, with Mike and the dog repeatedly jumping in. The space is Larissa’s idea; she needs a break from Mike’s energy.

From the water, Larissa watches Chris settle into a supervisory calm that reads paternal and steady. She notices his attractiveness and reflects on him having been shown her bedroom, feeling a pleased flutter that he saw her embroidered cherry curtains and might be impressed by her work.

Larissa recalls discovering that Chris had been quietly throwing out nuts from the pantry, recognizing it was to protect her. That thought makes her feel safe—rare relief from her constant survival mode around allergens—and underscores the contrast with Mike’s behavior.

Anticipating the drive home with Mike, Larissa dreads his loud music, sunroof, and high-energy distractions, wishing instead for Chris’s careful planning of safe restaurants. She worries Mike might swim out and disrupt their quiet, reinforcing her need for distance.

As Mike cannonballs again and laughter echoes across the lake, the ripples nudge the women slightly farther away, leaving Larissa more certain of the growing gap between Mike’s chaos and Chris’s dependable care.