Jayme & Tripp (Game Wardens 1)

He shrugged. “Better than a couple days ago. It still hurts though.”

“Of course, Honey. It will for a while.”

Tripp gave his shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll have our own kids one day.”

“Really? I figured since you didn’t want kids in the first place, that you’d be done after this,” Ian said.

Jayme shook his head. “I’ve changed my mind about having kids.”

“Wow. I’m shocked. You were adamant before,” Ian replied.

“Yeah, I know. That’s because I didn’t know what I was missing. Holding that little baby made me want things I didn’t even know I wanted.”

“Seamus and Mitch, are you guys planning on having kids?” Tripp asked.

“Eventually,” Mitch answered.

“Yeah, we’re going to wait a few years,” Seamus added.

“Okay, back to the engagement,” Jana said. “Who proposed to who?”

“Jayme proposed to me,” Tripp said with a grin.

“Huh, I thought it was gonna be the other way around,” she replied.

“How’d you do it, Jayme?” Mary asked.

“Listen, this was not planned, so it’s kinda cheesy,” he said.

“Cheesy proposals are the best,” Jana laughed. “Ian’s was cheesy, and I loved it.”

“I made Tripp pancakes, and wrote marry me in chocolate chips on them.” He grimaced.

The whole table Aww’d, well maybe everyone except Jayme’s dad. He just rolled his eyes.

“That’s super sweet,” Jana gushed.

“I think you beat me in cheesiness.” Ian chuckled.

“Oh yeah, he totally did,” Jana agreed.

Jayme felt the blush creep up his neck. “It was the best that I could come up with at the time.”

“Jayme actually proposed the night before, but he was buzzed, and it wasn’t romantic at all.” Tripp laughed. “It was kinda like, did we just get engaged? Yeah, I think we did.”

Everyone laughed.

“Hey, I made up for it, didn’t I?” He huffed.

“Yes, you did, Babe. I loved the pancakes, they were delicious,” Tripp cooed, and gave Jayme a peck on the cheek.

The conversation moved on to other things, and they had a nice night. After everyone left, Jayme and Tripp cleaned up the kitchen.

“Do you feel better now that everyone knows?” he asked Tripp with a smirk.

Jayme was at the sink loading things into the dishwasher.

“Well, not everyone knows. But yes, I’m happy that our families know.”

“I know, we have to tell work.” Jayme sighed.

“We’re not going to be able to hide it after I change my last name to Flanagan.”

Jayme whipped his head around to look at Tripp, who was putting food in the fridge.

“Come again?”

Tripp shrugged. “I figured I’d change my name to Flanagan.”

“Really?”

Tripp smiled. “Yeah, why not?”

“I just didn’t know you wanted to change your name.”

“We will be married. We should have the same last name. I think Tripp Flanagan sounds better than Jayme Littrell.”

“Okay. Only if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“Tripp Flanagan does have a nice ring to it.” Jayme smiled.

Tripp grinned and nodded.

“I would have changed my last name if you wanted me to, just so you know,” he said.

“I know, Love. But I want to do it.”

“Okay.”

They finished cleaning up, then snuggled on the couch to watch some TV together before heading to bed.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tripp

“HEY, LOOK, we got the invite to Seamus and Mitch’s wedding,” Tripp said as he walked into the kitchen with a pile of mail in his hands.

“Yeah, Seamus said they’d be coming soon,” Jayme replied.

It had been a couple of months since they got engaged, and things were going great. They started making plans for their wedding. Nothing crazy yet, but they did pick a date; September 7th. They also decided that it was time to tell work that they were together and getting married. They wouldn’t be able to hide it when Tripp changed his last name to Flanagan.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Tripp and Jayme headed out the door to go to work. They scheduled to speak with their Captain after their shift meeting. They had waited long enough and were tired of hiding it, it was time to come clean and deal with the consequences. They sat down at the table behind Brendan and Will, who both turned and said hi.

“Hey, guys. You ready for your meeting with the Captain?” Brendan asked quietly.

“No. But it has to be done,” Jayme murmured.

Brendan nodded. Only their close friends at work knew they were engaged, but the rest of the department was still on the outs. After this though, the whole place was going to know. Word usually got around like wildfire.

After their shift meeting, they went to see the Captain. They knocked on his door, and waited for him to call them in. They each sat in a chair in front of his desk. Tripp fidgeted nervously. They were about to get split up as partners, and he hated it. He didn’t want another partner.

“What's going on that you needed to speak with me about? Do you not want to be partners anymore?” Captain Tony Reeves asked.

“That’s not it at all, Sir. Jayme and I would like to remain partners, but after what we have to tell you; I’m not sure if you’ll allow it.”