Credit: Peacock screenshot
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As Stephanie and Jada catch up over dinner and wine at the Pub, Stephanie casually slips in that she slept with Alex again. Jada wonders what it means for them.“I have no idea,” Stephanie says with a sigh. Jada states that it’s okay to be friends who occasionally have sex, but based on Stephanie’s expression, she wonders if she wants more than that.
Justin comes to Alex’s apartment with a pumpkin, remembering how they used to carve them when Alex was little. With Alex working so much, Justin thought it’d be a good opportunity to bond. But if he doesn’t want to dig into pumpkin guts, Justin brought beer, too. As they drink on Alex’s couch, they catch up on Xander’s drama and then discuss Body and Soul. The latter topic leads Alex to admit he and Stephanie have become more than friends again.
Nancy surprises Bonnie at the mansion as the soap star rehearses her lines. Nancy passes on catching Bonnie up on her life in favor of talking about Body and Soul. After gushing over Bonnie’s role, she demurely says she read in a soap magazine that B&S is still casting. She was hoping Bonnie could put in a good word for her daughter, Joy.
Chanel calls Johnny after finishing at Sweet Bits to see if he wants to get dinner. Sitting in Small Bar with a beer, Johnny lies that he’s stuck at the studio. He did go by the bakery, though, but she wasn’t there. She says she was running an errand. Johnny flashes back to hearing her and Alex agree to keep something from her “clueless” husband outside Alex’s apartment.
As Johnny stews at the bar, a young brunette slumps into a seat next to him. She’s been traveling with her mother all day and could use a drink. However, she needs to freshen up first, so she asks Johnny to order for her while she goes to the bathroom. When Joy returns, she sips the beer waiting for her on the bar and vents about her mother. When she asks if a disinterested Johnny is even listening to her, he snaps that he’s not. Other people have problems, too! She gets up to leave, but he stops her and, more politely, introduces himself. He learns her name’s Joy (played by AlexAnn Hopkins ), and he welcomes her to Salem. Midwesterners are generally nice, he says. He’s just in a bad mood because his wife is cheating on him.
When Paulina meets with Chanel in the Square for dinner, Chanel talks about the surprise party she’s planning for Johnny on set. Paulina offers to help, but Chanel says Alex is already onboard. Paulina wonders if that’s a good idea. Chanel believes once they get through the first love scene tomorrow, Johnny will realize there’s nothing to be jealous of. Paulina isn’t so convinced.
At his place, Alex tells his dad that he and Stephanie aren’t getting back together. It didn’t work out the first time. Why would it the second? Plus, they’re both getting over people. Justin points out both other people are gone. Regardless, Alex doesn’t think they’re meant to be. He knows how badly he screwed up before, and it took a long time for them to be friends again. Justin points out they are more than friends though. Alex sighs and recounts how Stephanie ran out of there this morning, calling the whole thing a mistake. Justin asks if he agrees that it was. Alex says it doesn’t matter since Stephanie isn’t interested in him like that. He diverts Justin’s attention to the pumpkin.
At the Pub, Stephanie insists to Jada neither she nor Alex wants more than what they have. A dubious Jada thinks there are still feelings there. Stephanie doesn’t want to risk losing their friendship, confident Alex doesn’t feel the same way she does. Jada wonders if she’s asked him. Stephanie hasn’t because what if he doesn’t reciprocate? Plus, he was a player and a terrible boyfriend. Jada thinks people can change. Stephanie believes he has, but how much? She decides she’s not okay with their current status. Friends with benefits feels reckless, unfulfilling, and plain wrong. So from now on, strictly friends. No more sex. “If you say so,” Jada scoffs, sipping her wine.
At the Kiriakis mansion, Nancy tells Bonnie how stubborn and feisty Joy is. She’s also adrift. Maybe she could find her purpose on B&S. It would be Bonnie’s pleasure to put in a good word for Joy to ensure she gets an audition.
At the bar, Joy listens to Johnny vent his false belief that Chanel and Alex are having an affair. Joy calls his wife a stone cold bitch. Johnny somberly says she’s not, though. He doesn’t want to confront her because then it’s real, and he’d give anything for it not to be. She doesn’t think he should let this situation continue as is. Johnny knows he has to confront Chanel sooner rather than later. “Tonight?” Joy asks. “No,” he says, locking eyes with her. “Not tonight.”
