Leo sulks in his hotel room, clinging to office supplies he swiped after losing his job at Body and Soul. Javi arrives to lift his spirits on Valentine’s Day, and they exchange gifts. When Leo realizes he forgot to make dinner reservations, Javi forgives him, suggesting they order room service and watch TV. While Leo expects Drag Race, Javi is more interested in the big game, revealing he and his dad always watched the Texas Longhorns. As they watch together, Javi explains the rules while Leo enjoys the sight of athletic men in motion. The game takes an exciting turn, but Javi decides he’d rather play a different kind of one-on-one with Leo.
At their apartment, Steve surprises Kayla with a romantic Valentine’s Day and anniversary celebration. She had assumed he forgot, but he was simply setting up the perfect evening. Over wine and cheese—curated with Stephanie’s help—they discuss their daughter’s rekindled romance with Alex. Kayla is happy, but Steve remains skeptical, fearing Alex’s history as a player. She reassures him that mistakes are part of growing up, reminding him of their own turbulent history. Their mood shifts when Steve receives a concerning text from Tripp—his mother has gone silent since supposedly leaving for Hong Kong. Kayla suggests she may just be avoiding drama, but Steve is uneasy and determined to get answers for Tripp.
Later, they exchange gifts, only to find they got each other the same thing: tickets to the Cubs’ opening game. Kayla suggests inviting Stephanie and Alex to use the extra tickets, and they toast to their enduring love. Stephanie meets Alex at The Bistro, where he greets her with a red rose. As they share wine, she teases him about his refined taste, shaped by his mother’s influence. They reflect on their upbringings—his in privilege, hers shaped by distance from her father—grateful their paths led them to Salem.
At the hospital, Tate shares good news with Johnny and Chanel—Mrs. Choi has finally approved of him and Sophia putting the baby up for adoption. Johnny immediately suggests that he and Chanel adopt the child, believing it’s fate. They’re eager but wary, knowing Mrs. Choi has strong religious values that could complicate things. After Tate leaves to meet Holly, Johnny and Chanel debate the idea, with Chanel unsure if they meet the criteria Mrs. Choi expects. Johnny reassures her, and they share a hopeful kiss.
At the Horton cabin, Holly waits for Tate in a negligee, only to be startled by Doug’s unexpected arrival. Embarrassed, she scrambles for a robe as he explains he’s retrieving a book for Julie. As he finds it, a book of love poems, they discover a shared appreciation for its words. Doug unexpectedly confesses that from the moment he saw Holly on Christmas Eve, he felt something deep for her. Realizing he crossed a line, he apologizes and suggests they forget it happened, but Holly isn’t so sure she can.
Tate arrives, apologizing for being late, only to be surprised to find Doug there. After Doug departs, Tate excitedly tells Holly about Johnny and Chanel’s interest in adopting the baby. She questions whether it will be difficult for him and Sophia to be so close to the child, but he insists they can make it work. Hoping to shift the focus back to their Valentine’s Day, he pulls her into a kiss, but while he embraces her, concern lingers on Holly’s face.
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