Thick & Thin

Chapter Thirty-Three; Surprise-Surprise

"You enjoying yourself?" Shawn leaned over to his right and asked Beyoncé in regards to her birthday dinner. A table filled with a party of 8; specifically immediate family and her best friends for life in attendance- of course she was enjoying herself. The only thing bothering her at that particular moment was why she hadn't received a gift from him yet?

"Yea. But I'll be even happier when you decide to cough up this surprise you've been raving about. I'm tired of waiting Shawn. Where is it?" she poked out her bottom lip and frowned.

He chuckled and licked his lips; not even realizing that they had excluded themselves from the rest of the conversation at the table.

Kelly had just informed everyone about the news she'd discovered during her doctors appointment earlier that day. After hearing that she would be having twins in about 7 months, the shine had unintentionally fell off of the birthday girl to her. Michelle and Tina were ecstatic and asking a million questions.

"I don't know." Shawn leaned back in his chair and rubbed her back. "You sound a little ungrateful. I don't know if you deserve it anymore." he joked.

Beyoncé sucked at her teeth before picking up the fork from her plate. "Keep on playing, Shawn. I will stab you!"

Of course she was joking. He laughed and took the fork out of her hand.

"You sure you want it now?" he teased.

"I'M NOT GOIN' ASK YOU AGAIN!" She blurted out causing the attention of the other's to fall on them.

Unable to wipe the grin off of his face, he looked around the table and scratched the back of his neck.

"uh Helllooo?" she snapped her fingers in his face.

Kelly and Michelle sat perched raising their eyebrows; automatically assuming what this was about. They were wondering when he was going to go out with the big bang. Everyone was damn near done eating already. His little announcement was the only thing they were waiting on.

Shawn smirked and pulled out the tiny box holding the engagement ring he had purchased a couple weeks ago.

Beyoncé frowned thinking that there was no way that Tiffany's bracelet she had asked for was going to be able to fit in that little thing. Then it dawned on her when he started scooting his chair back and her girls started squealing and squirming in their seats.

"Oh my god!" she turned her head the opposite way before covering her mouth. Completely caught off guard, she also noticed that not only did Shawn have everyone's attention at the table but the rest of the restaurant's as well. Of course people are going to stare when they see a guy get down on one knee. This had to be the one time she didn't like being the center of attention. She knew if he was doing what she thought he was; she'd be crying like a big ass baby in a matter of seconds.

He positioned himself on one knee beside her chair since she refused to face him. Fanning her eyes, she laughed nervously. "Stop playin! Get Up!"

Shawn chuckled and grabbed her left hand which was shaking pretty badly right about now. "See, there you go. Ain't nobody playin."

She finally turned her body towards him and sighed. Shawn flipped the lid to the box holding her present and she damn near choked on her spit once her blurred vision caught a glimpse of the 18 karat cushion cut diamond ring sparkling in all it's glory. The first thing that popped in her head was 'How the hell did he afford that?', but she was elated none the least.

"Aw Bay-beeee!" she whined letting out a gentle laugh while he slipped it on her ring finger.

"Oh my lord." Tina muttered on the verge of tears herself. Courtney sat in her lap confused as ever; normally when she saw someone crying they weren't smiling. Poor child didn't know what to think.