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Overhearing Ted ordering flowers, Leslie proves there’s no conclusion she won’t prematurely jump to, assumes they’re for her. He makes it clear they’re for Shanice, adding that Eva’s mom needs to stop harassing Shanice. Leslie later swings by the hospital to flirt with Marcel. But before they can go out to breakfast, she notices the roses Ted ordered for Shanice being delivered.

Leslie tries needling her rival, without much success. But after overhearing Nicole, Shanice realizes that sending roses after the first time he makes love with a woman is kinda Ted’s calling card! Shanice later calls Ted out, and he admits it’s true. They make plans for later that evening… unaware that as they speak, Leslie — having paid off a bellboy — is slipping into Ted’s room to plant a pair of her panties behind a pillow!

Is Smitty In Over His Head?

Jacob asks (yet again) why Naomi is researching cancer treatments, failing to notice (yet again) that when he mentions (yet again) her not having the BRCA gene, she gets tense and evasive. Once she leaves, Elon joins his son to talk about the blood case, a suspect known as “the impaler” and the progress that needs to be made, pronto! Elon’s questions make it clear he doesn’t think Jacob can handle the assignment, and he later shares that opinion with Marcel. Surprisingly, Marcel says the squad room seems to be supporting Jacob. He also offers to keep an eye on Jacob.

In what I’m pretty sure isn’t a coincidence, Martin worries about the new story Smitty’s working on which kept him out all night. The politico later meets with Vernon to talk about his campaign, but Martin quickly realizes his grandfather’s mind is on Anita. Vernon says that when Anita collapsed, he feared she’d died and it was the worst pain he’d ever felt. Martin promises to be there for his grandfather, no matter what he needs. Meanwhile, Jacob meets with Smitty and we learn that the reporter has been working with the cop. But Jacob fears that Smitty’s wreckless behavior could put them both in danger!

Anita Prepares to Die

Wearing her judgment like the latest fashion, Kat takes her mom to task for having — gasp! — enjoyed Kial’s company the night before. Nicole refuses to be sex shamed by her daughter, who is obviously #TeamCarlton. Speaking of whom, he swings by Nicole’s office, and while she agrees to have dinner with him, she gently rejects his suggesting that they go on an overnight date to his niece’s destination birthday party. Kat storms on over to talk to Anita, who has just booted a concerned Vernon out of the house (temporarily). Anita suggests Nicole is dealing with things in her own way. Kat, she adds, has better things to worry about. Kat leaves once her gran agrees to talk to Nicole.

Kat’s next stop is Orphey Gene’s. Crossing with her dad, they have a nice moment… until he mentions Eva. Stomping off, Kat takes a seat and is joined by June. The waitress offers Kat advice regarding what’s important in life, including sisters. When it comes to Eva, June advices that Kat not “slam the door so hard it can’t be reopened.” While this isn’t the first time Kat’s been told this, the look on her face indicates that maybe, just maybe, this time it sunk in!

As for Anita, she does summon Nicole, but not for the reason Kat hoped. Instead, it’s to suggest her daughter be prepared to step in as family matriarch “should the worst come to pass.”  Turns out Anita has created a massive binder with everything Nicole will need to know in order to facilitate a “smooth transition.” In fact, this is why she actually kicked Vernon out for a few hours, as she knew they couldn’t have this conversation with him present.