Grey's Anatomy's Jake Borelli Ponders If Levi Will Take a 'Big Vulnerable Leap' for Love as He Faces Crossroads (Exclusive)

Will Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) finally get his happily ever after with new love James (Michael Thomas Grant) on Grey’s Anatomy?

On last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, Schmitt decided to move to Texas for a pediatric research position, despite being offered an attending position at Grey Sloan. He told Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) that he was following his heart by going to the Lone Star State, saying, “I love the highs and the lows and the goofy things they say, and that when I save a kid, I'm not just saving a life, I'm saving a lifetime.”

However, the decision left his future with James up in the air as his new beau has roots in Seattle. After struggling to break the news to his bestie Taryn Helm (Jaicy Elliot), she responded, “Think about how hard it will be to tell James.”

Borelli, who has starred as Schmitt since season 14 of the ABC medical drama, tells PEOPLE the Nov. 14 episode will follow on the “pretty big bomb drop about how Taryn was worried about Levi's relationship and how James will react to this.”

“We will figure out what that actually means for them and whether or not they are willing to take such a big vulnerable leap in an early relationship like that,” Borelli, 33, teases.

The actor — who came out as gay in an Instagram post in Nov. 2018 — shares why the storyline is especially significant to him.

“I'm excited to see that play out with two queer men specifically,” he says. “I think that's a moment we don't see enough on television.”

However, Borelli knows Schmitt is also facing another difficult conversation with Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington).

“There's also the big thing of we haven't seen him talk to Jo yet, so I'm very interested to see what that entails,” he teases.

When asked how he hopes that conversation plays out, Borelli says, “I hope she's not angry with me.” 

“I mean, Jo and Levi's friendship also mirrors a lot [of] me and Camilla's friendship,” he explains. “And I know that filming the episode was very difficult for the two of us to confront these ideas of goodbye, especially while we were processing that ourselves.” 

“And so I'm very interested to see how the episode turns out because I know it was difficult on the day for both of us,” he adds.

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Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.