Two Genoa City Exes Share a New Year’s Kiss — and Two Others Hit the Sheets
Kyle runs into Victoria at the Athletic Club. She heard about his decision to move on from Claire. She knows that’s hard to feel in the heart, even if it’s easy to think. He says it needed to happen.
They sit down and chat about how difficult the holidays can be when you’ve lost someone. The topic runs from Cole to Claire. It isn’t long before Victor comes up. Kyle wishes the Newmans would unite against him. That could change the game for all of them. Kyle adds that Jack thinks Nikki is on the verge of turning on her husband, but Victoria reminds him that her mother always stands her ground. So does she.
Kyle wonders if Victoria ever imagines what it would be like to pursue business without her father in the way and suggests it could be great if she showed solidarity with the Abbotts. Victoria will urge her daddy to see that Jabot doesn’t need to fail for him to succeed, no matter how much that may goad him. She wants them all to have peace in the new year.
Sally and Adam Swap
At Society, Sally and Adam realize they accidentally swapped their takeout orders. Once they switch bags, she offers to delay eating her kale salad if he wants to talk about ending the family feud. He accuses her of thinking he has no mind of his own and she insists he’s choosing to cave to his father.
Tessa Updates Daniel on Mariah
Tessa and Daniel are playing guitar on the Crimson Lights patio. He senses she has something on her mind. She’s sure he’s tired of listening to her problems, but he assures her he was a “professional mess” until recently and would like to help.
Tessa reluctantly admits that since losing Mariah, she has also lost herself. On the family tracking app, she noticed that Mariah had left Boston without notifying her. Her wife admitted she had headed south, but refused to videochat with Aria over the holidays. It was clear to Tessa that this was coming, and her wife doesn’t want to see her again, but it still hurt. She’s felt trapped in limbo for a long time and can’t live like that any longer. Sick of hurting, she tells him she needs to feel loved. They kiss.
Cane Tells Lily How Much He Cares
When Lily surprises Cane on his train, he ells her there’s no one he’d rather ring in the new year with. As he hands her a glass of champagne, she apologizes for giving him false hope, but they are further apart now than they have ever been. Cane’s confused. At the launch party, they felt close again. She dismisses that as just one night and accuses him of still being a liar, which confuses him even more.
With some prodding, Lily admits she saw Cane kissing Phyllis. She thinks he and Phyllis belong together since they are both liars who lust after power. Traci nearly convinced her to see the best in him… but then she walked in on him attached to another woman’s face.
Cane says if she’d stuck around, she would have seen him reject Phyllis. He claims he would never be foolish enough to risk losing her again. When he tries to remind her of their first date, she reminds him that it was a lifetime ago. He continues to insist that he will always love her.
The Final Scenes
At Society, as they count down to the conclusion of the year, Sally tells Adam she’s resolved to be the best version of herself: love better, forgive more, and have great success. Adam also wants to be the best partner and father he can be. He also hopes that the two of them can get to the point that they can call each other friends. Sally smiles, “Maybe so.”
Daniel takes Tessa back to his place. Lucy is out. As they undress in his bedroom, he asks if this is what she wants and tells her he doesn’t want her to do this on impulse. Tessa admits she thinks about this all the time. After they have sex, he holds her in his arms. They notice that the new year has already ticked over. She tells him, “I don’t regret this.” When she’s in his arms, she feels safe.
On the train, Cane pleads with Lily to admit she wants him as much as he wants her. He doesn’t think she hates him, but instead hates that she still thinks and talks about him. He hates himself for disappointing her, but can see that when she laughs at his jokes, it’s genuine, and when he stands close to her, she becomes flustered. Inching even closer, he begs her to stop pretending they don’t belong together and to let him love her. Cane takes Lily’s face in his hands and they kiss.
