Paulina Seizes a Glimmer of Hope While on a Date With Abe — and Tate’s Into Holly But She’s Crushing On

When Johnny comes to pick up Chanel for their date, he suggests they stay in upon learning Paulina isn’t home. After Kate hypes up an anxious Paulina about her date with Abe, Paulina returns home with groceries. She’s happy to see the lovebirds together again, but they need to take it someplace else because Abe’s coming over for dinner. However, she worries she’ll do something that will push him away for good.

Nicole finds Abe reading an article about Body & Soul in the Square. He knows who she is and that she has a daughter, but only because of Kayla’s flashcards. He recalls that they are friends, but Nicole corrects him. “You’ve been like a father to me.” She tears up as she tells him how much she’s missed him. After getting filled in, Abe hopes he gets his memory back because she seems like a very special person. She calls herself more flawed than anything, but she can’t wait for him to be part of her baby’s life. He thinks Holly must be excited for a sibling, but Nicole counters she’s more excited about whatever teenage girls are excited about. She just hopes that doesn’t include boys because she’s not ready for that.

Checking his watch, Abe tells Nicole he has a date, but he’s nervous about Paulina’s expectations. Nicole doesn’t think Paulina will pressure him. “Have you met the woman?” Abe retorts. She suggests he live in the moment because there are worse things than having a wonderful woman madly in love with him. Abe is starting to understand why they were so close. A weepy Nicole is glad they had this time together and hugs him.

As Tate rants to someone on the phone about being in Salem, a blonde, teenage girl strolls by in the park. He hangs up to return something she dropped. Locking eyes with him, she catches her breath as she thanks him. After introducing themselves, Tate says staying in Salem might not be so bad after all. He tells her about his fire alarm prank, which landed him there. Pulling out a joint, she offers to let him light up and forget his troubles.

After reiterating that he doesn’t want to rush marriage, Chad leaves the apartment to pick up the kids. Over the phone, Stephanie admits to Kayla that she was lying about not wanting to get married because she doesn’t want to seem desperate. She hangs up when Chad returns without the kids, who wanted to stay at Doug and Julie’s. Before they go to The Bistro for dinner, Chad ensures they’re okay with the marriage issue. Stephanie lies that they’re on the same page.

At Titan, Alex declines Theresa’s dinner invitation because he’s too busy with work. Assuming he’s worried that she’s after his money, she reminds him they made plans to go out before she knew he was Victor’s son. However, she flashes back to secretly reading the contents of Victor’s briefcase in Greece. She presses until Alex makes a reservation at The Bistro. Before they leave, Alex asks if she’s using him to make Brady jealous. She says if he’d been on the flight with her, Brady, and Tate, he wouldn’t be asking that. She just hopes Tate being with Brady is good for him and that all the drama is in the past.

In the park, Tate tells Holly he could stand to chill out a bit, but spots a cop. They agree to hang out another time and exchange numbers. As their gaze lingers, Tate moves in for a kiss. Holly backs away. “What are you doing?” A horrified Tate profusely apologizes. Holly assures him it’s fine, but she’s in love with someone she’s known forever. They haven’t gone out yet, but she’s pretty sure he likes her too.

At the apartment, Chanel tells her mother that Abe’s love for her is there, just waiting to resurface. When it does, it will be just as strong as before. Maybe even stronger. Johnny adds that he and Chanel found their way back to each other because it was meant to be — the same as Paulina and Abe. Hugging them, Paulina sends the reunited pair off.

Abe arrives at the apartment as Paulina nervously sets the table. After some awkward small talk, Abe easily finds the decanter for the bottle of wine he brought. Paulina’s mouth drops. “How did you know where that was?” Abe thinks it was just a guess, but an excited Paulina takes it as a sign of more good things to come. Abe weakly smiles.

At The Bistro, Chad and Stephanie encounter Alex and Theresa. When the women go to the bathroom, Chad offers support should Alex need anything in the wake of the Victor reveal. He knows a thing or two about it. Later, at their table, Stephanie tells Chad that Alex was Theresa’s type before he came into the Kiriakis fortune. She wouldn’t want to be in her way when she’s motivated. Across the dining room, Alex thanks Theresa for convincing him to go out. She knew he needed to get out and have some fun. After toasting, they maintain flirty eye contact while sipping their drinks.

In the Square, Nicole talks to Brandon on the phone about Abe. After hanging up, she runs into Tate. After she reintroduces herself, he catches her up about why he’s there. He then tells her he met a hot girl in the park, but she shot him down because she’s into someone else.

Johnny brings Chanel to the mansion to watch the movie Clueless. Off Chanel’s shock that it isn’t a classic, Johnny professes he’s no movie snob. When she goes to the kitchen, Holly comes home. She grins upon finding Johnny flipping channels. She chats him up about movies as Chanel returns with popcorn. Holly asks if they’re back together. “We are,” Chanel pointedly declares. Holly feigns happiness for them.