Days of our Lives Recap for Wednesday, February 19, 2025: Jada and Shawn have a close encounter

Kate stopped by Philip’s hotel room and was surprised to find suitcases on his bed. She assumed he was making a getaway, but he clarified that he would be moving into his father’s mansion. Kate warned him against living with a man he could not stand. Philip argued that Xander had been the one to extend the invitation. Since Philip needed a “permanent” place to stay, he intended to accept it.

Kate remained steadfast in her opposition to the idea. She considered the arrangement “too close for comfort” and invoked the possibility that the truth could slip out at any time. When Kate brought up Sarah potentially busting Philip, he contended that Sarah had just as much to lose as him. After all, she had kept the truth from Xander for a long time. Philip compelled Kate to trust his judgment.

Kate stood down and proclaimed that she would have faith in Philip. She was just worried and wanted the best for him. Philip thanked his mother for her love and concern and offered to take her out to dinner. Kate declined the invitation but wished Philip a happy Valentine’s Day.

Later, Kate entered the pub. She was elated when Roman strolled inside and ran to kiss him. He had been determined to get back for Valentine’s Day and had just managed to beat the traffic. He expressed his sympathies to Kate for the loss of Body & Soul. She felt confident she would find a new endeavor.

Roman gave Kate a gift but told her she could open it “after.” “After what?” Kate asked with an eyebrow-raise. “After The Traitors, of course,” a grinning Roman replied. Kate chuckled, grabbed some cookies, and went upstairs, arm-in-arm with Roman.

At the Kiriakis mansion, Sarah arrived home from work and launched into a rant about her busy day. She halted when she came upon a candlelight dinner. Xander approached and presented his wife with a rose. He had thought Sarah might enjoy a romantic night at home rather than going out since she’d had such a tough day at work. Sarah was touched and grateful, especially for Xander successfully getting Victoria to sleep for the night; she rewarded her husband with a kiss.

Later, as the couple ate dinner, Sarah opened up to Xander about her worries regarding the hospital’s future. Xander offered to buy the hospital. While Sarah considered the offer sweet, she reminded him that the hospital wasn’t for sale just yet. Xander pledged that regardless of what happened, Sarah would never want for anything. She joked about being a “kept woman” and then turned the subject to their new roommate.

Sarah expressed her surprise at Xander’s invitation to Philip. He countered that the offer had made sense because Philip and he could better strategize if they had access to each other throughout the day. Xander couldn’t understand why Sarah seemed so hesitant, as he had credited his turnaround about Philip largely to her. Sarah claimed she didn’t want Xander to set himself up for disappointment. Since Xander had felt like an outsider with his family for most of his life, she feared getting burned by Philip could really hurt him.

Xander assured Sarah that he was going into the new arrangement with Philip “with my eyes wide open.” Later, Xander and Sarah were indulging in a kiss when Philip arrived with his suitcases in tow. He had assumed the couple would be out and tried to excuse himself, but Xander asked him to keep Sarah company while he fetched desserts. Once they were alone, the tension between Philip and Sarah immediately arose. Sarah indicated she wasn’t pleased with Philip moving into the mansion.

Philip vowed to Sarah that it would be for the best. “It damn well better be,” Sarah snapped. As they both agreed the truth couldn’t come out, Xander reentered the room with a bakery box. He let Philip know that their father would have been proud of them for working and living together, and Xander had hoped that the new accommodations would be great for the company and for the family. After exchanging a look with Sarah, Philip returned the sentiment and went upstairs to unpack.

Xander placed the box on the table and explained he had gotten it from the pub. When Sarah opened the box, her eyes widened. Inside was a chocolate cake with the words “Will you marry me?” etched on it. Sarah couldn’t believe Xander had gotten her a cake just like the one she had gotten him previously. Xander wanted to return the favor for the best gift he had ever received; Sarah hugged Xander but had a worried expression.

At Rafe’s house, Gabi pulled away from her kiss with JJ long enough to invite him to spend the night. He eagerly accepted the invitation, and they made their way to the bedroom. Once they got to Gabi’s room, Gabi started apologizing for the mess and moved to clean it up. JJ took off his shirt and said he’d add to the “mess.” Gabi followed suit, and the couple fell onto the bed in a passionate embrace.

Later, in the afterglow, Gabi confided she had been so focused on the state of her room because Rafe had always scolded her about cleaning her room when she was a kid. Gabi bemoaned at her brother’s out-of-character behavior, especially his treatment of Jada. JJ agreed with Gabi that Jada was innocent of the charges against her. After Gabi mentioned EJ’s potential involvement in a set-up, JJ suggested he join the cause to prove Jada’s innocence.

Gabi was elated at the news and jokingly promised JJ she would clean the room if he followed through. JJ wondered if Gabi was willing to go up against EJ again. She relished the thought of making him pay for what he had done to her. But it could wait until after Valentine’s Day, she insisted as she pulled JJ in for another kiss.

At the DiMera mansion, Belle stopped EJ from leaving to confront Rafe. She called him “sweet,” and they quickly began flirting. Belle accepted EJ's invitation for a nightcap. As EJ poured their drinks, Belle pondered whether they were beginning to act like an actual couple. EJ urged her not to overthink it unless she had come by because she had wanted to spend Valentine’s Day with him.

Belle asked what he would think if that was indeed the reason. He said he would consider himself lucky to have captured the attention of an "accomplished, successful, and fascinating woman” and kissed Belle. He pulled back and admitted he had been happy to see Belle. She remained cautious because she was the DA, and he had an inclination to skirt the law. Belle pressed EJ on whether she should be worried that she was setting herself up for a fall.

EJ couldn’t promise Belle he would never disappoint her, but he could offer her “certainty” that what she saw was what she got with him. Belle wasn’t comforted by his answer. EJ added that he wasn’t Shawn and wouldn't change, but Belle retorted that she wasn’t comparing the two men. If a good person like Shawn had hurt her, she didn’t consider it an optimistic sign for her and EJ’s prospects. She told EJ that if he had done anything to make her walk out the door for good, then he should be honest with her before it was too late.

EJ started to make a confession but was interrupted by Belle’s ringing phone. It was Paulina who informed Belle of something that seemed to rattle her. After Belle ended the brief call, EJ inquired what had happened. Belle responded by throwing her drink in his face. Belle then blasted EJ for attempting to get her fired.

EJ defended himself, reminding Belle that she had taken his job first. Belle presumed EJ had wanted to confess about his conversation with Paulina. EJ did not dissuade her of the notion and assumed the revelation meant that he and Belle were through. “You assumed wrong,” Belle said. She reasoned that she could be better prepared to fight for her job since she knew EJ’s true intentions.

“I give as good as I get,” she warned. EJ smirked and attested that he looked forward to the challenge. “May the best DA win,” Belle declared. "I will," EJ shot back before shaking Belle's hand. The handshake soon turned into a kiss, and the duo rushed upstairs.

At the Brady Pub, Jada drowned her sorrows with a drink. She complained to herself about Rafe and mused to the drink, “You’re the only Valentine I need tonight.” Before she could down the beverage, Shawn emerged from behind the bar and cautioned her to reconsider. Jada brought him up to speed on her latest run-in with Rafe. Shawn was taken aback by Rafe’s behavior but not entirely shocked, given the way Rafe had been acting.

Jada suggested Shawn may have been right about Rafe’s post-coma personality change, but she was tired of thinking about it. Shawn again urged her against using alcohol to numb her pain, as he had learned the hard way where that road could lead. Jada asked him for another option to get out her “aggression.” Shawn smiled and walked over to the dartboard.

Jada failed to stick the dart on her first few tries, so Shawn offered his help. They lightly bantered about his “mansplaining” dart-throwing, and then Shawn moved beside Jada to position her aim. She nailed the next throw and got excited. She and Shawn shared a smile and a lingering glance. Jada had a string of successful throws and chastised Shawn about revealing his “secrets” to her. He added another trick of the trade: when he hit a bull’s eye, he imagined EJ’s face.

Shawn asked Jada why she had hinted that Belle and EJ might still be involved. After hedging, Jada admitted that Belle had been at the mansion and had been acting untruthful when Jada had gone to confront EJ. Realizing that his ex and EJ were likely still sleeping together, Shawn turned to the dartboard and hit a bull’s-eye.

After Jada took Shawn’s suggestion about picturing EJ’s “smug face,” she landed another bull's-eye and won the game. Jada rejoiced at her victory, then realized that Shawn had let her win. He believed she needed a win. She countered, “I really needed a friend.” Jada thanked Shawn for being the friend she needed.

Later, Shawn accompanied Jada back to Stephanie’s place. She again thanked him and said somewhat suggestively that the place was empty. Shawn suggested he should go, then paused and leaned into Jada. Before they kissed, Jada and Shawn pulled back. Jada affirmed that as angry as she was at Rafe, she still loved him.

Shawn understood as he was still thinking about Belle and EJ. Both Jada and Shawn agreed that they did not want to do something they would later regret.

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