Samantha tells her sister Jeneva she is going on a date with veterinarian Dr. Xavier Rush, arranged earlier that day during Pooter’s checkup. As Samantha finishes getting ready, the sisters discuss their mother’s worsening early-onset dementia, recent wandering incidents that prompted door locks and alarms at their grandmother’s house, and the loss of family jewelry. Samantha plans to fly to California the next day to help and hopes her mother will recognize her in person.

Xavier arrives at Samantha’s building with a small succulent instead of flowers, accounting for her impending travel. He remains reserved but courteous, and Samantha notes his striking looks and serious demeanor. He drives her to Lake Minnetonka for a Midwest Animal Rescue adoption cruise, explaining that he volunteers frequently and had originally planned to attend with a friend before inviting Samantha.

On the dock, Samantha accidentally drops her ringing phone into the lake. As she prepares to jump in after it, Xavier calmly removes his shirt and dives in, retrieving the phone from the bottom amid cheers from nearby passengers. He declines returning home to change, opting to dry off in the sun, and encourages Samantha to call Jeneva back to reassure her.

Aboard the yacht, Xavier orders them signature salty dog drinks and chooses a mocktail for himself, citing a dislike of losing control and his role as driver. They sit on the upper deck, share appetizers, and fall into an easy back-and-forth. Samantha observes how well-known and respected Xavier is among volunteers and guests, even as he remains contained and understated.

They trade light personal histories: Xavier’s last relationship ended because the woman disliked dogs; Samantha jokes her last long-term boyfriend “didn’t like mustard,” referencing her job as a social media manager for Murkle’s Mustard. Samantha answers questions about her family by describing her mother as the CEO of the family landscaping business and her sister as a special education teacher, choosing not to foreground her mother’s condition in that moment.

As rescue volunteers circulate with adoptable dogs, Xavier knows their names and details, and Samantha bonds with a pit mix named Peanuts. The pair banter about pet names—Samantha shares “Elizardbeth” for a former lizard—and invent a witness-protection alias for a brown, long-haired mixed-breed dog, with Samantha proposing “Jake from State Farm.” Xavier enjoys her humor and gives her his full attention despite flirtation from others on board.

By the time dinner is announced, the date has shifted from initial awkwardness to warmth and mutual interest, highlighting Xavier’s careful, grounded nature and Samantha’s wit and empathy, all against the backdrop of Samantha’s family stress and Xavier’s deep involvement in animal rescue.