Days of our Lives recap for Friday, January 3, 2025: Stephanie dreamed of Alex while she slept next to Philip

In Gabi’s bedroom at the Hernandez house, Gabi stirred awake in JJ’s arms. “Glad I stayed,” JJ said. “I’m glad you did, too,” Gabi said. Gabi kissed JJ. In the other room, something shattered. “What the hell was that?” Gabi asked. Concerned, JJ grabbed a tennis racket and raced into the kitchen to confront the intruder.

“Don’t kill me!” Javi shouted out. When Javi turned, he saw JJ, and he smiled. “You scared us half to death,” Gabi said. Javi explained that he had accidentally dropped a mixing bowl. Javi introduced himself to JJ. “I’ve seen your pictures. And he’s even hotter in person,” Javi said.

As Gabi smiled, JJ thanked Javi for the compliment. Javi told Gabi and JJ to sit while he made pancakes. When breakfast was ready, Javi asked about their New Year’s Eve. “You want to hear the details of our night. You got to cough up yours first,” Gabi said. Javi explained that Kerry was out of town, so he had gone out by himself. “The whole night was kind of a bust,” Javi said. With a grin, Gabi said she recognized the look on Javi’s face.

“You’re thinking about going back to Leo Stark, aren’t you?” Gabi asked. Javi denied the accusation a bit too strongly. As Gabi looked over at JJ, Javi abruptly stopped eating and announced that he needed to go to the gym to work off the three bites of pancakes he had eaten. Javi told Gabi that she owed him details about her night, and he hurried off to his room.

“Congratulations. You survived Hurricane Javi,” Gabi said. “Survived? With these pancakes, I’d say I came out on top. Even if I have to spend all day in the gym, it’s totally worth it,” JJ said. When JJ asked Gabi if she needed to go in to work, she noted that she had taken the week off. “I don’t start at the Salem PD until tomorrow. Maybe you want to spend the day together?” JJ asked. Gabi nodded yes.

While asleep in bed with Philip, Stephanie had a sex dream about Alex. Stephanie was startled awake from her dream, and Philip wished her a Happy New Year. “Did you sleep okay?” Stephanie asked with an overly cheerful smile. Philip said he had slept well thanks to the Champagne. “Guess it didn’t work for you though. The way you were tossing and turning just now,” Philip said. Stephanie acted surprised.

“Seemed like you were having a pretty intense dream,” Philip said. “Well, I don’t remember what it was about,” Stephanie said. Philip stared at Stephanie until she asked what was wrong. “I just wonder if maybe you do remember the dream but don’t want to, you know, hurt my feelings by admitting it was about Alex,” Philip said. Stephanie asked if she had been talking in her sleep. Philip said no.

“It was just a hunch,” Philip said. After a moment, Stephanie admitted that she had been dreaming of Alex. With a sigh, Philip noted that he had made a mistake in staying overnight. “I thought I could help you get over Alex. But I was wrong because I failed,” Philip said. Philip jumped out of bed and started to dress. Stephanie begged Philip to talk things through with her.

“There’s nothing to talk about. You’re obviously still hung up on Alex,” Philip said. Stephanie argued that one dream did not mean anything. Philip countered that whenever Alex’s name was mentioned, Stephanie got a look on her face. “And I’m realizing more and more, especially after last night, how genuinely interested I am in you,” Philip said. “Then why are you leaving?” Stephanie asked. Philip said he needed to get over Stephanie before he fell too hard for her.

“I want a relationship with you, Stephanie. So if you don’t want the same thing, I think we should just cut our losses and end this,” Philip said. Stephanie argued that she had residual feelings for Alex, just like Philip had for Chloe. “Isn’t that what we talked about last night? That we both want to move on with our lives?” Stephanie asked. Stephanie noted that it would take time to get over their past relationships, and Philip agreed.

“No matter how I feel or felt about Alex, he is the past. You are the present. And not only that, I like you, Philip,” Stephanie said. Stephanie stressed that she would not have slept with Philip if she had not wanted to date him. “[Last night] really did mean something to me, too,” Stephanie said. Stephanie asked Philip to stay for breakfast. With a smirk, Philip asked Stephanie how she liked her eggs.

After Philip made breakfast, Stephanie raved about Philip’s cooking skills. Philip joked that if his co-CEO gig fell apart, he could work as Stephanie’s chef. “That is not going to happen. Public opinion is fully behind you as CEO or rather, co-CEO of Titan. And so am I. No way the tide turns against you now,” Stephanie said. “You saying you believe in me?” Philip asked. Stephanie said yes. With a sigh, Philip admitted he had doubted himself, and he appreciated that Stephanie believed in him.

In Joy’s room above the Brady Pub, Alex and Joy woke up next to one another in bed. “This is a little awkward,” Alex admitted. “It is. But on the bright side, at least you’re not married,” Joy said. Alex chuckled and said no. “Are you sure about that? I mean, I guess I’m still wondering if something is still going on between you and Stephanie,” Joy said. Alex sighed.

“We haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Alex said. “But that wasn’t really your choice, was it?” Joy asked. Alex said there were a lot of reasons for the breakup. “But that doesn’t actually matter anymore because she’s seeing my cousin, Philip,” Alex said. Joy rolled her eyes. “I get the sense that you’re not too thrilled about that,” Joy noted. Alex said he was fine. Alex explained that Stephanie had once been engaged to Philip, and Philip was eager to rekindle the relationship. “Whatever she wants,” Alex said. Joy asked Alex what he wanted.

“I really do like Stephanie. We had a lot of good times together. But when we hooked up on set, it really, truly screwed things up for us,” Alex said. Alex added that even if there was no issue with the workplace, he did not believe that he and Stephanie would be able to rekindle their old romance. “Why not?” Joy asked. “Just the basic, you know, incompatibility between us. And I think Stephanie feels the exact same way,” Alex said. Alex noted that Kate’s dating mandate at work was for the best. Joy nodded and made a face as if she did not believe Alex, but she was humoring him.

“What? You don’t believe me?” Alex asked. With a laugh, Joy said she believed him. Alex apologized, and he said he would stop talking about another girl in bed. “What are we going to do?” Joy said with a chuckle. Alex kissed Joy, and they had sex. After, Alex suggested they get breakfast downstairs, but Joy declined in favor of preparing for work the next day. Joy groaned when she looked and realized that all her scenes were with Chanel.

“I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen when we see each other,” Joy said. Alex agreed it would be an awkward moment. “But you were not the one that was married. Johnny was,” Alex reminded Joy. Alex argued that Johnny had made Joy keep the affair a secret to protect Johnny’s marriage. “You were kind of in a no-win situation,” Alex said. Alex noted that although Chanel was tough, so was Joy.

After Stephanie and Philip ate breakfast and dressed, Philip announced that he needed to go to work. “I bet Xander’s already there looking for any excuse to say I’m not holding up my end,” Philip said. Stephanie agreed. “I should probably catch up on work myself,” Stephanie said. Philip and Stephanie made plans to have dinner together. As Philip and Stephanie kissed goodbye in the doorway, Alex spotted them as he returned home. Alex hid around the corner in the hallway.

“I really did have a good time last night,” Stepanie said. “So did I,” Philip agreed. As Philip turned to leave, he saw Alex and called out to him. Alex greeted the couple. “I hope you enjoyed your New Year’s Eve,” Philip said. “I did, thank you,” Alex said. “Well, so did we!” Philip said as he held up his hand for a high five. Alex blinked and did not respond. Philip said goodbye to Stephanie and walked away. Stephanie and Alex quietly wished one another a Happy New Year.

At the Body & Soul office, Abe was surprised to see Johnny walk in. “Shouldn’t you be home sleeping in with your wife?” Abe asked. “I should. Problem is, Chanel is gone,” Johnny said. Johnny confessed that he had cheated on Chanel. “You’re going to be even more upset with me when I tell you who I cheated on her with,” Johnny said. Johnny explained that he had cheated with Joy before she had been cast on the show.

“I wanted to make it very clear that I did not use my position to take advantage of a cast member, all right? It was just a terrible, completely random coincidence,” Johnny said. Abe crossed his arms and sighed. “I appreciate your honesty. And I don’t think this would be an issue for HR unless this is still going on,” Abe said. Johnny stressed that the affair was over.

“I’m just worried that my marriage is over, too,” Johnny said. When Abe suggested that the marriage might not be over, Johnny shook his head no. “You didn’t see her face last night. You didn’t see how hurt she was,” Johnny said. Johnny told Abe that he did not believe Chanel would ever forgive him.

“I was so stupid. I had myself convinced that she and Alex were sleeping together. I was so focused on my anger, how betrayed I felt. I was too cowardly just to confront her about it, you know, handle it like two adults would do. If I would have just asked her, I would have known nothing happened between her and Alex. Instead, I acted on my anger. And by the time I found out the truth, it was already too late,” Johnny said. “And by then, you and Joy had slept together,” Abe added. Johnny clarified that he had not had sex with Joy.

“[We stopped] at the last possible second,” Johnny clarified. “So maybe you were more clear-headed than you thought,” Abe said. Johnny shrugged, unsure. “All I know is that in that moment, I realized how much I loved my wife and no matter what I thought she did, I couldn’t bring myself to betray her,” Johnny said. Johnny added that what he had realized since that night was that he had betrayed Chanel just by going to Joy’s hotel room. With a shake of his head, Johnny said he did not believe that Chanel loved him anymore.

“I know Chanel is upset with you right now. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. She just needs some time to deal with what happened,” Abe advised. “You think that’s all she needs? Just time?” Johnny asked. Abe said no, but that time would definitely help. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” Johnny said. Johnny thanked Abe for his advice. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so charitable toward me,” Johnny admitted. “We’re family,” Abe said. Abe told Johnny that he did not hate him but that Paulina would be a harder sell.

At the Price-Carver house, a yawning Chanel wandered into the living room as Paulina was eating breakfast. “Chanel! Where did you come from?” Paulina asked. Chanel said she had slept in the guest room. Confused, Paulina asked Chanel why she was not with her husband. “Because I left him,” Chanel said. Chanel explained that she had learned that Johnny had cheated on her. Paulina asked when it had happened.

“When he thought that I had slept with Alex,” Chanel said. “So you’re saying he decided to get back at you for something you didn’t even do?” Paulina asked. Chanel nodded yes. When Paulina asked about the woman, Chanel admitted that Johnny had cheated with Joy. “That girl that you were nice enough to take under your wing?” Paulina asked. Chanel explained that Johnny had cheated with Joy before she had been cast on the show.

“To just jump into bed with a complete stranger? What was Johnny thinking?” Paulina said. Chanel explained that Johnny had been angry and he had gone back to Joy’s hotel room. When Chanel added that Johnny and Joy had not actually had sex, Paulina was taken aback. “Well, why are you so upset?” Paulina asked. “I’m upset because he did fool around with Joy,” Chanel said. Paulina asked for the details, and Chanel obliged.

“They stopped before the point of no return. But as far as I’m concerned, that is still cheating,” Chanel said. Paulina reluctantly agreed that the situation was wrong. “Look, it sounds pretty bad, but–,” Paulina started. Chanel interrupted to ask if Paulina sided with Johnny. “If you ask me, it’s even worse that he didn’t sleep with her because that means that Johnny knew exactly what he was doing the whole time,” Chanel said. Chanel refused to forgive Johnny.

“I am done with him!” Chanel said. As Chanel poured a cup of coffee, Paulina said she wanted to kill Johnny for how he had hurt Chanel. “So you get it now?” Chanel asked. “I got it before. I was just trying to give Johnny the benefit of the doubt. But Chanel, you are right. Him not trusting you then going back to her hotel room with her. Getting into bed with her. There just is no excuse for any of that,” Paulina agreed. Chanel thanked Paulina for her understanding.

With a sigh, Chanel said she had believed that her marriage was on solid ground after the misunderstanding, but now she was heartbroken to know the full truth. Pauling hugged her daughter to comfort her.

After Chanel left, Abe returned home. “I thought you were in the office all day,” Paulina said. “I had intended to, but I need to talk to you. I saw Johnny,” Abe said. Paulina told Abe that Chanel had stayed overnight and told her the whole story. “Well, Johnny does feel horrible about what happened,” Abe said. “As well he should!” Paulina countered. With a shake of her head, Paulina said she did not think Chanel would forgive Johnny anytime soon.

At the Body & Soul office, Johnny played with his wedding ring. Johnny called Chanel as she was walking through the town square. “Hello,” Chanel said curtly. “I wasn’t sure you would answer,” Johnny said. “I don’t have anything to say to you,” Chanel said. Chanel ended the call. As Chanel turned, she saw Joy sitting on a bench across the square. “You, on the other hand,” Chanel growled as she walked over to Joy.

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