"Oh," he reddens a bit. 

(Jamie pats his knee.)

 "So I guess the verdict is, quit my job?"

"I mean, I feel obliged to recommend you to wait a couple of days or something, but it sure sounds like it."

"Mm." He swallows his food, "Next day off is in two days. Could call in tomorrow, and we could spend a day or two meeting your family, depending on how that goes." 

"Which of the worlds do you guys live on anyway?" 

"Oh, boring world Earth, I am afraid. Our family are one of the few."

"Aw, so we won't be going to another one?" 

"Or will we be taking a portal shortcut and ending up back on Earth?" 

"The second thing. Unless you feel strongly about flying coach. I think the route passes by Australia at some point, but nowhere interesting."

"Portals? No one told me about this! The route just goes through Earth?" 

"I think we mentioned but didn't elaborate. They are hard to target, but stay in place and you can still use them for shortcuts if the placement is lucky."

"So where else does this shortcut go through, and can we look around while we're there?" Even if it's just random wilderness, if it's another world's random wilderness it'll be interesting!

"We'll be on a schedule, Jay." Alex reminds him. 

He huffs, "Yeah, I guess it's not the time," he admits reluctantly. 

"Yeah. And also it isn't an actual travel vehicle, rather a cargo one. It shouldn't be too uncomfortable, though. And we might be able to see Elsewhere's fauna."

"Ooo!" 

"You guys have a place to stay the night while you're in the city? If you're staying in the city, that is." 

They could probably put them up, if they don't mind sleeping in the living room. He figures they probably have better options, though. 

"We got a motel room. No worries."

Oh good. 

"Plans for tomorrow then? Should we be bringing anything beyond an overnight bag? Do we need ID to travel like this for some reason?" 

"IDs are good, but not necessary. I don't think you need to bring anything specific. Do you preferences or needs regarding travel or your stay?"

Jay sleeps even less when he sleeps alone, but Alex doesn't want to just come out and ask for one room.

"We'll be fine with whatever," Jamie says with a shrug. No reason one of them can't just move into the other's room when they go to bed. 

"I mean, windows, on the way there, and in the rooms. But I figure that's a given." 

"Yeah. That we got you covered. Can't give you choice of view when we get there, but no worries."

"Guess that's settled then. Ice cream before you go?" Dessert is an important part of dinner, after all. 

Ice cream! They give out some contact information (just in case) and leave them be.

They go to bed, but not to sleep, at first talking over the events of the day. Then it finally hits him fully, that Jamie is not going to die or be miserable for the rest of their life. They're gonna be okay. The understanding of this hits him hard, leaving him light and breathless. 

They don't get to sleep until the early hours of the morning.