Days Recap: Days of our Lives Recap July 1: Gwen Learns Xander's Been Two-Timing Her With Kristen

In today’s Days of our Lives recap for July 1, 2026, Lexie kept a major secret from Abe, Javi reflected on his past, Roman bounced Kate, and Xander dealt with looming trouble on two fronts.

Next-Level Non-Disclosure Agreement

Lexie chose to keep her death sentence to herself | Image: Peacock

At Abe’s place, Lexie tearfully vowed she would not be taken from her family again. When Abe joined her, Lexie claimed she had been emotional because of the official revocation of her death she had received in the mail. She reaffirmed all of the small things – from sunrises to the smell of coffee – for which she had a new appreciation.

After Lexie asked how his visit with Chanel had gone, Abe expressed surprise. Finding out Paulina’s role in ensuring her resurrection had made Lexie do some “soul-searching.” Instead of jealousy and resentment, she felt gratitude towards Paulina and her family. They had been there for Abe when she hadn’t been able. Abe was touched by Lexie’s turn-around.

Lexie suggested she and Abe keep the positive vibe going by finally sharing a bedroom again. Abe asked if she was ready, to which Lexie replied, “I have never been more ready for anything in my life.” But as Lexie strode into the bedroom, Abe’s smile faded when he touched his wedding ring. Following a moment of reflection, Abe slipped off the ring, placed it on the table, and prepared to join Lexie.

Green-Eyed Monster

Javi claimed he wasn't jeaous | Image: Peacock

At Rafe’s place, Gabi interrupted Javi and Gus’ meal to ask about Ari. Gus informed her Ari had moved out and that Ari had indicated she would be staying with her great-grandpa at the Brady Pub. Javi was caught off guard but not entirely surprised to learn that Gabi had paid off Ari’s would-be beau to leave town.

After Gabi left to track down Ari, Javi confided that he understood Gabi’s overprotectiveness because his mother had been the same way. Gus mentioned the mother’s struggles with Javi’s sexuality, which prompted Javi to apologize for how he’d allowed his fears of disappointing his mother prevent him from taking a chance with Gus sooner. Gus assured Javi he had nothing to be sorry about, but if they had been an item back in Texas, Javi likely never would have met Leo.

Javi said he didn’t regret his relationship with Leo, nor did he ultimately regret his relationship with his daughter’s mother because it had given him his little girl…if only for a short time. He opened up about how his daughter, Tesoro, and even Leo had made him into a confident and open person who was ready to love.

The subject of Leo turned the topic of conversation to Leo’s accident-by-slime. Javi noted Leo seemed out-of-sorts at the hospital and wondered if he should check on him. Gus said it wasn’t necessary because Leo had told him someone would be coming to the hospital to pick Leo up – someone who was a “he.”

Javi took a long gulp of his drink at the news, and Gus asked if he was jealous. Javi claimed he wasn’t. Even if the mystery person was a new love, Leo had every right to move on, just as Javi himself had done. To prove just how jealous he wasn’t, Javi laid a passionate kiss on Gus and led his boyfriend to the bedroom.

Vacancy of One

Kate wanted answers from estranged hubby Roman | Image: Peacock

At the Brady Pub, Kate approached Roman and told him the lawsuit against Johnny and DiMera had officially been dropped. Roman halted his cold shoulder treatment long enough to let Kate know that their granddaughter Ari would be staying upstairs. When Kate questioned what room was available, Roman coolly responded, “The one you’re sleeping in.”

Kate surmised Roman didn’t want her to come back to their room, so she directly asked if he was ordering her to move out. More importantly, were they over? Kate had grown tired of the uncertainty and she needed to know if Roman would ever forgive her. Roman would only say they needed time apart so he could decide for himself when, or if, their marriage would resume.

Later, Kate made a call to Philip and told him she would be moving into the Kiriakis mansion for the foreseeable future, whether an out-of-town Maggie liked it or not. Her day didn’t get any better when she bumped into Gabi, who was on her way to see Ari. Kate informed Gabi that Ari wasn’t there and the women traded insults, with Kate blaming Gabi and her deception about Titan for her troubles with Roman. Gabi sneered that Kate probably blamed her for hurting Ari, too. To Gabi’s surprise, Kate stated she would have done the same thing in regards to Liam.

Self-Help Seminar

Philip bowed out of Gabi and Kristen's pity party | Image: Peacock

In Horton Town Square, Gwen approached Philip, who was deep in his copy of So Long, Soulmate. Philip groused about the lame advice in the book, and Gwen conceded that ultimately it just took time to get over a betrayal. After Gwen left, Gabi was the next to catch Philip in his self-help session. She made a comment about the title of the book, but Philip promptly corrected that it wasn’t about her, as they were far from soulmates. Gabi only offered a small smile and said she wasn’t over Philip either…and likely never would be.

Gabi got her hopes up when Philip said he wanted to talk, but those hopes were dashed after he indicated the topic was her payout to Titan. Philp asked Gabi not to tip off EJ about the deal, and Gabi promised she wouldn’t. She did, however, look forward to rubbing it in Tony’s face for betraying her confidence. The comment finally gave Philip the opportunity to reveal that Anna – not Tony or Theo – had outed her secret to him. The revelation angered Gabi, so she launched into a rant about the DiMeras and, specifically, EJ.

The mention of her brother caught the attention of a passing Kristen. She joined Gabi and Philip, who found reason to beat a quick retreat. Once alone, Gabi and Kristen commiserated about their hatred of EJ and their mutual determination to go to any lengths to protect their daughters.

Later, Kristen put the next phase of her vendetta against EJ into action by making another call to Sydney. She invited her niece on a shopping spree in Paris.

Post-Concussion Confessions

Former besties Gwen and Leo had a semi-sleepover | Image: Peacock

At the Salem Inn, Leo stumbled through the hallway. In his dazed state, he saw Kristen and Xander looking very cozy outside their hotel room. Xander didn’t see Leo until Kristen had left and while Leo was busy yelling at the door of an empty room. Xander approached and asked if Leo had been drinking. Leo rambled out an explanation about how he’d gotten injured by slime. He then launched into a non-sequitur about his horrible mother and her mistreatment of him.

Xander related his own bad experiences with his mom and then whipped out a few pearls of wisdom he’d learned from his sessions with Marlena. Leo stumbled into his arms, so Xander prepared to help Leo to his room. Gwen’s imminent arrival, though, gave Xander his chance for a clean get-away. Gwen said she’d take care of Leo and asked if Xander wanted to meet up later, but Xander begged off and departed.

Later, Gwen settled Leo on the bed in his room. He told her she could leave, but Gwen knew she had to keep Leo from falling asleep post-concussion and joined him on the bed. He snuggled up to her, which earned an eye roll and a reach for the liquor. As Gwen downed her drink, Leo bemoaned how instead of getting Javi riding to his rescue, he’d gotten Javi’s hunky boyfriend instead. Gwen essentially advised him to suck it up and soldier forward, as she had done.

Leo decided to take a page out of Marlena’s book as well and practice some empathetic “active listening” with Gwen. She confided neither Dimitri nor EJ had been pestering her lately, but she was still on high alert. Leo, remembering what he had seen earlier, hesitantly broached the topic of Xander. He said Gwen deserved someone who loved and valued her, and Gwen sarcastically retorted that men weren’t exactly knocking down her door. She wished she could forget Xander, but she couldn’t.

Gwen questioned Leo about his sudden anti-Xander stance. With even more hesitation, Leo confirmed EJ’s assertion that Kristen and Xander were having a torrid affair.

ARO Could Make Titan DOA

ARO's KO punch alarmed Xander | Image: Peacock

At the Titan offices, Xander ended another frustrating call. which had yielded no information about Titan’s mysterious debtor. When Philip arrived, Xander relayed the lack of progress. Philip joked that only a little afternoon delight could have gotten Xander away from the office, and his eyes widened when Xander’s expression seemed to signal his joke had a ring of truth. Philip got even more of a shock after he realized that said afternoon delight hadn’t occurred with Gwen, since he’d seen the woman earlier. Xander refused to divulge the identity of the mystery woman, despite Philip’s prodding.

The mood took a drastic turn after Xander received shocking intel about ARO Wealth Management. Not only had the company tripled the interest rate on the loan, but they had also halved the time Titan had to pay the loan. Philip declared the demands impossible and essentially deemed Titan screwed.

Will the brothers Kiriakis discover who has them by the…purse-strings? Will Kate ever get her husband – or at least her room – back? Will Gwen go femme fatale on Xander and Kristen? Sound off in the comments.