AFRO TO HIS BEATS

CHAPTER 27

TOLANI'S POV

I hadn't thought much about the gala after Mumsy's call weeks ago. It was one of those things I told myself I'd handle later, once Rema's tour kicked off and I had more clarity on our schedules. Now, with his tour in full swing and barely any time left before the event, I realized I couldn't delay the conversation any longer. I'd been meaning to tell him, but it always seemed like the wrong moment—either he was preparing for a show or we were just enjoying some downtime, the last thing I wanted to do was add more stress.

Sitting on my couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket, I swiped through my phone and pulled up FaceTime. My finger hovered over Divine's contact for a second before I pressed call. The familiar ringing sound filled the air, and soon, his face appeared on the screen, his signature mischievous smile lighting up my phone.

"Hey, baby," he said, his voice low and warm, instantly calming any nerves I had.

"Hey," I smiled, adjusting my phone so he could see me better. "How's the tour life treating you?"

He chuckled, running a hand through his short curls. "Tiring, but good. We just got done with soundcheck for tonight's show in Paris. I swear I haven't slept properly in days." He leaned back in his chair, looking every bit like the superstar he was, even when he was clearly exhausted.

"Poor baby," I teased, pouting playfully. "Well, you look good for someone who hasn't slept in days."

"Ah, you know me," he grinned, flashing that perfect smile. "Always gotta keep it fresh for you."

I laughed, but then bit my lip, knowing I needed to bring up the gala. "So, um, I actually called because I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Uh-oh," he said, raising an eyebrow. "What did I do?"

"Nothing!" I laughed again, shaking my head. "It's not like that. Remember a few weeks ago when I told you my mum called about this gala?"

He paused for a second, thinking. "Oh yeah, the one for her law firm, right? When is that again?"

I shifted on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me. "It's in about a month, in London. She really wants me to come, and well... she kind of asked if you could be my plus one."

Divine's eyes widened slightly, then he let out a soft laugh. "Your mum wants me to go to a law firm gala? That's... something."

"Yeah," I said, cringing slightly. "I know it's super formal, and probably not your vibe at all. I told her you might not be able to make it because of the tour. But she's kind of insistent. She even said it's a chance for us to 'show off' to all her lawyer friends and family."

He leaned forward, his face filling the screen. "Show off, huh? Mama Adetoye wants to parade me around?"

I laughed, even though I was still a little anxious about how he'd respond. "Something like that. She thinks it's a good opportunity for me to reconnect with my sisters too—Amira, Assie, and Adewunmi will all be there. It's this huge event, and she's got all these grand plans for it."

Divine was quiet for a moment, his brow furrowing as he thought. "When exactly is the gala?"

I hesitated, pulling up the date on my phone. "It's the second weekend of next month. But I know you're probably in the middle of shows around then."

He looked up, smiling slowly. "Wait... that's around the time I'm playing the O2 Arena in London."

I blinked, surprised. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "I'm doing the O2 in London, and that falls right around the gala. It might actually work. We could do both."

I stared at him for a moment, processing what he was saying. "So... you're saying you'd actually come with me?"

He chuckled again, this time with that playful smirk I loved. "Yeah, why not? I mean, if I'm already in London, I could make time for the gala. Besides, it sounds like your mum really wants us to go. Wouldn't want to disappoint her now, would we?"

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "She's going to lose her mind if you show up. She already thinks the world of you."

He shrugged, grinning. "I aim to please."

"Well, you're definitely going to win her over even more by agreeing to this," I said, still feeling a little disbelief. I hadn't expected him to say yes, especially with everything going on with his tour.

"So, what do I wear to this thing?" he asked, pretending to look concerned. "Do I have to get all dressed up in some fancy tux?"

"Oh, absolutely. Tuxedo, bowtie, the whole nine yards," I teased. "My mum wants to make a statement, so we have to look like the power couple she's convinced we are."

Divine laughed, shaking his head. "You're really putting me to work, huh? But for you, I'll do it."

"You're the best," I said, feeling a warm flutter in my chest. "I'll make sure you're rewarded properly after."

His eyebrows shot up, and he leaned in closer to the camera. "Oh yeah? How you gonna do that?"

I bit my lip, trying to contain my smile. "That's for me to know and you to find out. Hint: I'll buy another Victoria Secret set"

He laughed again, his voice deep and smooth. "Alright, alright. But for real, I'm glad we'll be able to do this together. It'll be fun."

"I'm relieved," I admitted. "I was so nervous to ask you, thinking you'd say no."

"Why would I say no? It's important to you, and you're important to me. Plus, I love any excuse to show you off."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at his words. Even through a screen, he had a way of making me feel like the only person in the world.

"Speaking of showing off," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "How's everything going with your own stuff? I've been seeing you kill it with your posts lately."

I smiled, appreciating the change in topic. "It's been going really well. The engagement's been crazy, especially with some of the content we've soft-launched. People are really starting to catch on."

He nodded, his expression proud. "I told you, you're killing it. And after this gala, they'll see even more."

We spent the next few minutes talking about his upcoming shows, the logistics of our plans for London, and just enjoying each other's company. But as our conversation wound down, I found myself smiling, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. Somehow, the thought of the gala didn't seem so daunting anymore.

With Divine by my side, everything always felt a little bit easier.

As we said our goodbyes, I leaned back into the couch, a content smile on my face. Mama was going to be over the moon when she found out Rema was coming to the gala. And for the first time in a long time, I was actually looking forward to it.

A/N

H GUYS!!!!!!!