Temptation • An NBA Love Triangle

2 • body and soul

Armelle went back into her home and sighed before praying. She prayed for self control, because she wasn't sure if she had any.

Looking up from her clasped hands, she smiled at the picture of her and her husband at their wedding almost ten years ago.

Every year, she and Tobias renew their vows. With their ten year wedding anniversary coming up, they plan on having a exquisite extravaganza.

She was made for Tobias. That was clear as day.

After sixteen years together, there was no separating these two.

"Mel, where are you?" She stood up from her kneeling position and met her mother, Eileen, in the foyer.

"Hey, mom. How are you?" They hugged each other and walked into the kitchen for drinks.

"I'm good, sweetheart. How are my angels doing?" Armelle smiled and handed her mother a glass of juice before sitting down beside her.

"They are incredible, mom. They're finally back at school after missing all of last week. They had me so worried." She placed her hand on her forehead and sighed as her mother rubbed her back.

"Now, tell me, who's that heathen next door? He needs to go put a shirt on." Armelle rolled her eyes at her mother and laughed softly.

"That's John Wall. He's Tobi's new teammate." She took a long long drink of her water and sighed after opening her eyes.

"There's something about that boy. I'm getting bad vibes from him. Stay away from him." Armelle just nodded, letting her mother ramble about heathens and how more people need to go to church.

She just wanted her preacher mother to drink her juice and be quiet, to be completely honest.

||

Eager to see their dad play, the kids practically dragged their mother and grandmother into the Amway Arena.

Armelle picked up her five year old son and kissed his cheek as they waited in line to get their food.

"Where is the rest of that girl's dress?" She followed her mother's eyes and gasped once she spotted the girl.

"They don't care, mom. They just want to find themselves a basketball player." She shook her head in disgust.

"The dresses get shorter every time I see them." Armelle rolled her eyes before grabbing the tray of nachos from the cashier, thanking him before walking away.

They found their seats and Titus admired his father as he participated in shootarounds.

"Look, mommy! It's John!" At the sound of his name, Armelle looked up and raised her eyes as he walked over to them with Tobias.

"Yeah, baby. Go give daddy a hug." The kids stood up and greeted their dad with hugs and multiple kisses.

They excitedly greeted John and asked him a million questions as Tobias hugged his wife and mother-in-law.

"Babe, give me the luscious. Give it to me." She laughed and gave him a kiss before playfully pushing him away.

"I love you, Tobi! I want a double-double from you tonight." She winked and he smiled before stepping back onto the court.

She nodded at John before he followed Tobias over to the bench. "The shirtless devil in the black convertible."

Armelle sighed and placed a nacho into her mother's mouth, shutting her up.

She chewed on it with narrowed eyes, licking her lips before popping her daughter's hand.

"If you wanted me to shut up, you should have told me to!" They shared a laugh and watched the kids interact with each other.

"When are you two giving me another grandchild? I'm not getting any younger!" Armelle looked over at her mother as if she had three heads.

"Mom, Tobias and I are happy with Tabitha and Titus. We don't want more children at the moment." Eileen nodded and raised her hands in defeat, smiling as Titus sat in her lap.

She kissed his cheek repeatedly, earning squeals from him, and held him close to her chest as he started to calm down.

||

"Did you see that dunk, mommy!? Daddy was awesome!" Tabitha was bouncing off the walls and couldn't stop talking about her dad's performance.

Armelle laughed and ran her hand through her daughter's hair as they walked to the locker room area.

"Channing!" She took off running towards her favorite big cousin and laughed as he picked her up.

"Hey, Toes! You know, you look more and more like your daddy everyday." Armelle laughed and nodded in agreement, running her hand through her hair.

"Titus looks like your grandfather, Chan. I'm sure they would have loved him." He nodded and let Tabitha down to greet her other cousins.

Tobias walked out of the locker room with a big smile and immediately greeted his beautiful wife with a smile and a sweet kiss.

"You look so good, babe." She ran her thumb over his bottom lip and smiled.

"Don't make me throw up." They looked over at Channing with straight faces and separated as Tabitha hugged her father's waist.

"Daddy, you were awesome out there! I'm so proud of you!" He kissed the top of her head and she moved her head back to peck his lips.

"You guys ready? Mom took my car. Titus couldn't fight the sleepiness. Little man didn't make it through the third quarter." He smiled and nodded before saying goodbye to his cousin.

Just as they made their way out of the arena, they heard someone moan and Armelle grimaced as Tabitha looked at her parents in confusion.

"Hurry and get her to the car. I don't want my baby girl hearing that." She nodded at her husband and hurriedly walked over to his BMW, unlocking the doors with the push of a button.

Tobias opened the door for his daughter and made sure she was secured before closing it.

"I don't know who that is, but I'm pissed. Our daughter shouldn't have to hear that." Tobias tucked his angry wife's hair behind her ear and kissed her.

"I'm kinda in the mood now. You're sexy when you're mad." She rolled her eyes with a smile and got in the car.

||

Armelle couldn't sleep, so she made herself a cup of tea and sat outside.

She focused on the calmness of the air until an absurd noise startled her.

John had a girl screaming loudly, definitely waking up half the neighborhood.

She scoffed and looked over at her new neighbor's house.

"Disgusting pig. Ugh, you don't belong here." She stood up and walked back into her house.

"You're still up? Honey, you need to get to bed." She rubbed her daughter's back and kissed her forehead before walking into the kitchen.

"I can't sleep, momma. I heard something next door. It was loud and woke me up." Armelle was now seething.

She didn't know why, but she was angry.

Was it jealously..? Is she feeling covetousness towards a girl she doesn't even know, because her husband isn't giving her enough pleasure?

"Go upstairs, baby. I'll be up there soon." She nodded and went upstairs, leaving her mother deep in thought.

Should she talk to her husband about their sex life and express her feelings about it?

As much as she loves her husband, he isn't fulfilling her needs like he should.

Maybe it's time for a sit down.