Read the last BTG recap: Dani and Bill shared a moment after reminiscing as Hayley asked Andre to join forces to keep them apart./em>

At the club, Vernon asks Martin if he will really be welcome at his meeting.

Martin insists that they all walk in his shadow. Besides, he’ll need all the help he can get with the primary looming.

They sit and talk. Vernon thinks he’s being too safe and uninspired. Martin says he’s dealing with bread-and-butter issues.

Vernon tells him economic revitalization is boring and he needs to “spread gospel” with influences.

He shows him his latest TikToks, where he’s dancing around and how much people like them.

He’s all over social media so he can keep an eye on the family.

Martin says that he’s a real influencer but there’s more than just likes on his dance moves.

Vernon suggests he let the voting folks see more of his personal life so they can relate to him more.

Martin thinks it’s best to keep the kids out of it.

His grandfather urges him to “humanize” himself more.

They discuss fundraising and the congressman explains Joey is suddenly interested in giving him money.

Vernon says he’s a piranha. That’s why Martin never cashed his check.

Vernon admires that and regrets bringing that man into their orbit.

At Orphey Gene’s, June tells Smitty and his family that their food is on the way.

They chat about how there are no leftovers, and Tyrell jokes that’s because some ate as they’d never seen food before. His sister kicks him under the table.

June takes off and Smitty tells Tyrell this is not the time or place for this.

Smitty lectures them into talking to each other with respect. Samantha walks off to help June moves plates.

June tells her she needs to keep his job for her health coverage.

Her daughter wonders if she’s sick. June says it’s just leftover from her bypass.

She tells her that chest pains to compete with freezing to death.

Long-term health care isn’t what outreach provides for.

Back in their booth, Tyrell tells Smitty how worried he is that Jessica is leaving for college.

He didn’t want to look like a simp by putting his feelings out.

Smitty says he can show vulnerability without looking like a simp.

This could be a way to get closer.

Martin arrives and is surprised when they inform him that they already know Vernon is on social media.

Samantha tells Martin to open a free clinic. Her dad says that’s a nice idea but it’s complicated.

She asks to stay behind to help June, and they take off.

As soon as she’s alone, Samantha calls someone to meet her.

At the casino, Vanessa startled Joey with a kiss.

He apologizes for leaving bed early but thought the neighbors shouldn’t see him leaving the grieving widow’s.

She says he needs to move forward and won’t apologize for it.

He adds that being seen in public with him could complicate things.

Vanessa doesn’t want it easy. Grief doesn’t mean she needs to stop living and Joey makes her feel alive.

The twins might not like it but she needs the light he brings to her life.

She wants to prove they are together in a way that matters and asks him to be her date to Winterfest. He says that’s just an event for rich people to peacock at.

She doesn’t care if people whisper.

It’s a rescue mission so she can be distracted from more speeches about benevolence.

For her sake, he says “no.”

She’s annoyed that he refuses to “claim” her in public. Is he ashamed of her?

He says that he’s never been respectable and doesn’t care about shame.

That’s part of what attracts her to him.

Joey says they aren’t the same. She’s classy.

Vanessa wants to be with him. He reminds her they are money-laundering and he’s concerned about her.

She says she wants what she wants and he can call her when he figures things out.

She bumps into Vernon as she exits.

He asks Joey to steer clear of Martin’s campaign.

Joey agrees but tells the senator not to look down on him. They aren’t so different.

Vanessa goes to the club and asks Diego to Winterfest.

He declines.

At the hospital, Shanice runs into Ted and spills her files.

They have both been having a day.

When he tries picking up the pages, their hands touch. They share a moment.

She complains about the boss needing paper.

Ted jokes he once saw him trying to fax a PDF.

They step onto the elevator. It stalls and the light goes out.

She says the elevator is cursed and stops whenever someone says “stuck” in it.  Shanice says that the elevator is jinxed and Ted keeps saying more things that make her feel more superstitious. “Some things you don’t tempt, like black cats, splitting poles, saying Candyman in the mirror.”

They get to know each other a little and she tells him she is the first of five kids and her parents are still married.

She finds owls creepy and doesn’t like parrots because no bird should talk.

Izaiah greets Eva at the food court with a kiss.

He enjoys the taste of her new lip gloss and starts bragging about how there is nothing shy about him.

He tells her he used to be a menace but someone showed up for him and stopped him from crashing out.

She’s impressed and he’s sure she’s feeling this. He has “top plans” for their next date.

He wants to see the real her. She tells him not to break her heart.

He wouldn’t dream of it.

Izaiah suggests a picnic but that sounds cold to her.

Ted calls and says he’s in a situation. He gets her to reschedule some consultations.

She tells Izaiah they may need to cut this short so she can get back to work.

Eva makes some calls so she doesn’t have to go.

He suggests they go back to his place.

She’s into him but was burned in her last situationship and would rather take the scenic route to a possible future.

“Hell yeah,” he says.

They put a pin in their plans. She promises she’s worth the wait, kisses him, and leaves.

Back in the elevator, Ted and Shanice talk about her common sense superstitions.

She claims she’s just cautious. Ted muses on how little he knows about her and asks what he should know.

She says she’s the oldest of five, middle-class, goes to church, never married, and was almost a ballerina.

Nothing scares her other than birds. They are “feathery demons.” He says this is the most honest conversation he’s ever had in the hospital.

The elevator opens and she says she’ll be taking the stairs from now on. “Maybe I will too,” Ted says.