Dedicated to shay_uunxo ❤

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Find a good spouse, you find a good life— and even more: the favor of God !
--Proverbs 18:22 (MSG)

Talk with her.
Impress her.
Flirt with her.
Ask her to be your girlfriend.

Tayo was just a few more scrolls away from flinging his phone onto the sofa in his office. He had been searching earnestly on Google on how to ask Posi to be his girlfriend. And all the things he read just made him scoff.

What is this? He was tired of all the ideas in there. Has someone not done something original?

If you wanted something original, you won't be searching Google now, would you?

Well, that was true. He had to think. He couldn't afford to botch it with Posi. She was too precious for that.

He had been thinking long and hard since the moment he got a green light. He wasn't even sure if it was really a green light. He just felt like now was the moment.

Weeks after his relationship with his family got back on track, Funmi and Gerald asked him to be their best man for their wedding which was coming up in roughly a month. Of course, he had been surprised that Gerald hadn't found one at the time, but he was more than honoured that they had extended such an honour to him and had excitedly accepted.

However, as the days went by, he began to question his premature excitement. Funmi had the two of them running errands that bordered on it seeming like she was bullying them. He wasn't even the groom and he was already feeling the stress as if it was his wedding he was planning for. Although he was so happy to see Funmi and Gerald get closer and more relaxed as their wedding date drew closer, he really didn't want to be stressed.

I hope Posi won't be like this. He laughed at himself. He sure was jumping the gun, placing the cart before the horse, definitely counting his chicks before they hatched and every other idiom or proverb that applied to his situation. He hadn't even asked her to be his girlfriend and here he was, imagining her as a wife. He was losing focus.

The five of them, including GP, had been spending time together. They somehow made it work even though GP wasn't around physically. Their chatroom was a field for memes, hilarious stickers and goofy retellings of their life. And most of the time, it was an atmosphere of love, joy and prayers.

He had a great family, loving friends and a successful company. All that was left was for him to ask Posi to be his girl. And God willing, he'll be accepted.

Tayo lifted his face up towards the ceiling as if he expected a visible splash of idea to fall on him.

Nothing is impossible.

*******

"You can't arrive at the hotel late o, Miss Yinka. I'm not going to be one of those brides that arrive at the church when the Pastor has already begun the service because I couldn't get my make-up done in time. I want to be at church, at least thirty minutes before I'm required to waltz in."

Posi smiled as she watched her friend speak into her phone. Her wedding was now weeks away and she was making final calls to all her vendors even though her wedding planner had told her all was in order.

Posi shook her head as her friend continued grilling the next vendor. Half of her mind was on the notes she was preparing for the singles' meeting they had in church. Pastor Bee had somehow found a way to put her on the planning team.

Regardless, it was lovely to see the love shinning in both her friends' eyes anytime they were together. She wasn't jealous of it, just glad that the two were finally tying the knot. And she was more than excited to be the chief  bridesmaid.

Love indeed was a beautiful thing.

Before she knew it, her thoughts had bounced over to Tayo. He had been behaving very strangely for some days. She had asked him but he said he was alright. But she could see that he was trying all he could to hide what was bothering him.

When he is ready, he will tell me.

Her relationship with her dad was getting better, slowly but surely. They both were doing their best given the circumstances and it seemed their best was enough. For now.

"Babes, did Tutu tell you when she will be arriving?" Funmi asked as she tapped her phone.

"Yeah. She said she'll come a week to the wedding."

"Okay. Thanks."

There was silence for some minutes before Posi spoke up again. "Tayo says you have been sending himself and Gerald on some weird errands. What's up with that?"

Funmi laughed. "Don't mind me. Most of the time, I'm just messing with them. Other times, it's because I just need some time to myself."

Posi frowned. "What do you mean?"

"As the wedding day draws closer, it's becoming harder to not give in to temptation."

"Temptation?"

"Yeah. The thought that we are as good as married so we can just participate in fornication. Yes, that type of temptation. So, I send Gerald off with Tayo anytime the desire to stay alone with him wants to trump our vow to stay pure till marriage."

Posi nodded in understanding. "And what do you do?"

Her friend looked at her with puzzlement. "Why do you think I've been visiting you so much and spending the nights here?"

She gasped as her hands flew to her chest. "I thought you were missing me!"

"Of course. That too. But majorly so I can focus on what is important. And I'm missing you already too." Funmi jutted her bottom lip out as she made puppy dog eyes to her best friend.

"Yeah. You have perfected that look. It will work just fine on Gerald. Dude doesn't even know what is about to hit him."

"Ah, well. I'm sure he knows. A huge container of blessings is about to collapse on him." The two laughed.

"Anyways, I'm glad you're taking practical steps to fulfil your vow. I will just tell Tayo to persevere for the next few weeks."

"Thank you, babes. In the meanwhile, I need to talk to my dad. All of a sudden, he wants to hire a live band for my reception when we have already concluded months ago that I want a DJ. I don't know what made him change his mind. But I need to remind him whose wedding it is," Funmi placed her phone on her ear and winked at Posi. "Respectfully, like the Yoruba child that I am."

Her friend was proving it more and more that she was a goof. Gerald is in for a fun time.

*******

Let's go out for dinner. I will come pick you up. 

That was the highlight of her phone call with Tayo. And there was something different about how he said it.

Posi stood in front of her wardrobe trying to decide what outfit to wear. Finally, she chose her favourite purple-coloured top, a pair of dark blue jeans and wore white block-heeled mules along with silver hoop earrings.

She picked up her purse and made her way to the car waiting for her downstairs. With an idea of what the dinner was about, she wiped her sweaty palms against her jeans with an occasional smile forming at the edge of her lips.

"Hey, you. How was your day?" Tayo asked as he shifted gears to get them moving. He was dressed in dark jeans and a blue-striped button up shirt.

This fine man is my buddy.

"It was fine. Yours?"

"Good too."

They were both all smiles as they made conversation and Tayo drove towards a restaurant he had been dying to take her to. Apparently, it was the next best place in town. And his enthusiasm about the place had rubbed off on her.

As soon as they arrived at the restaurant and found a parking space, they alighted and walked into the room. They were ushered by a well-dressed waiter to a corner of the room.

The restaurant was decorated in dark tones of brown and sectioned into booths for the privacy of each diner. The high-backed glossy black leather sofas looked plush and soft enough to give a relaxing feeling. The circular tables held a small vase of artificial flowers in them and the menu while soft jazzy music filtered through speakers hidden in the ceiling.

"You like?" Tayo asked.

Posi turned to look at him and smiled. "Yeah. It's got this laid-back feel to it."

"I knew you would. Guess what? They even have a rooftop but I thought it would be too cold at this time. We can go check it out before we leave."

"Okay. I'd love that."

The night was going swimmingly with good food, a great atmosphere and the perfect company too. Posi lost count on how many times she rolled her eyes as Tayo went on dishing out dry jokes.

"You're on a roll tonight o. But have mercy on me, please. I can almost feel my eyes turning on their own, ehn," she pleaded with her hands clasped together when she couldn't take it anymore.

"If I don't tell you these jokes, who else will I tell?" He had on the look of a lost boy.

"That," Posi said as she used her index finger to draw a circle in the direction of his face. "won't work on me either."

They joked and laughed a lot till tears spilled out at the corners of their eyes. The night was going so well and Posi didn't want it to end.

After they had eaten their dessert of chocolate and red velvet moist cake soaked in ice-cream, Tayo suggested they go check out the rooftop area of the restaurant.

They walked hand-in-hand to the roof and Posi inhaled a long breath of the fresh night air. She could feel Tayo's eyes on her again as she had at many times during their meal and she knew he had something to say.

If she was being honest, she knew what he wanted to say and she couldn't wait to give an answer.

*******

When he told her about them hanging out for dinner, he had been planned out each step of his proposal. But now that he was standing beside her, he suddenly realized he was having a little trouble getting the words he had rehearsed over and over again, out of his mouth.

Thank God I have a Plan B. Just in case.

After watching her for a few more minutes, he gathered up his thoughts and led her to one of the loveseats. They sat down and he watched as her eyes shifted to his.

She truly was a sight to behold and there was no need to be hesitant. Even if she said no, he'd still be grateful for her. He summoned up his courage, turned towards her and took both her hands in his.

"Posi."

"Hmm."

"I'm super grateful and blessed to have had you come into my life at the time that you did. Thank you for the joy and spice you add to my life. And thank you for sharing your longtime besties, your favourite small chops combo and even your wisdom with me. I know I have been a knucklehead at some points but thank you for sticking by me."

He paused, cleared his throat, then continued. "I want to add as much joy and excitement as you have added to my life and even more, if you allow me. I think about and pray for you a lot more as each day passes and you mean more than a friend to me. I've had this practiced for a long time now but there's just no other way I'll love to ask." He paused to look down on their linked hands and held hers tighter before looking back into her eyes. "Ayomiposi Elizabeth Faleye, will you be my girlfriend and at some time in the very near future, be my wife?"

They had been staring into each other's eyes for the past minute as he said the words he had been waiting to say for the past few months. He watched as the hard girl, he had known for almost a year, gave him a watery smile.

I didn't say anything that should make her cry now. Or did I?

Before he was done contemplating on the words he had spoken, her demeanour changed to a laughing one.

"Ookaay. What's going on?" He asked, lost.

"Yes, I accept you as my boyfriend," she replied cheekily.

She sure was precious. Only she could make a serious moment into a funny one with a goofy reply. "Wow. You had to turn it around on me, yeah."

"Gotta keep you on your toes."

His hands still held onto hers and he pulled her close to give her a hug.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Thank you too," she whispered back. "Funmi would be so glad to hear this news."

"Right," he said, still whispering.

"Why are we talking in whispers?" She whispered back.

"Savouring the moment, maybe. At least, I am."

He heard her laugh as much as the hug could allow and he laughed along. The way he felt in the moment was probably to shout it on the rooftop that she was his now.

But staying here is way better. Way way better.

"I love you, Posi."

"I love you too."

"The ship is sailing smoothly."

Gerald stared at his wife-to-be with a puzzled look. After all the unnecessary errands she had sent himself and Tayo on for the past week, he was busy questioning just how he was going to cope after they get married. The funniest thing about it was that he couldn't still imagine his life without her in it.

I just have to brace up.

Turning his attention back to the moment, he asked. "What ship? Are you running an event on a ship for a client?"

For a moment, he thought he was looking at Posi.

She is glaring at me too much these days. 

Funmi's glare had an uncanny resemblance to that of their best friend and he wasn't sure he wanted to stay on the sofa he was sitting on. So, he moved a short distance away, just in case she decided that she would fling the slippers she was eyeing at him.

"Love, you're so unaware of your surroundings sometimes ehn," she said.

"What are you talking about now?"

She placed her left palm on her forehead and sighed before turning to him. "The Tayo and Posi ship is sailing. And before you ask me if they are travelling on sea, let me answer. They are dating now."

Oh. That's what she meant.

"I'm excited for them. It's been a long time coming. But why didn't you just say it like that?"

Funmi scrunched her nose at him. "I don't even know why I bothered too."

He stuck his tongue out at her. They could act immature at times but he wouldn't change anything about them.