Temptation • An NBA Love Triangle

8 • family over everything

With Tobias out of town, Armelle had endless time with her children.

She took them out for ice cream everyday after school, helped them plan a surprise for their father and uncles, and let them "cook" dinner for her.

They did miss their daddy, but they loved the quality time they spent with their mommy.

"Mommy, can I talk to daddy?" Tabitha looked up at her mother and gave her the infamous puppy dog eyes.

"Sure, sweetie. You know his number, right?" She nodded eagerly and grabbed her mother's phone, unlocking it before getting off the couch.

After a few seconds of silence, Tabitha let out a squeal and greeted her daddy over the phone.

Titus moved impossibly closer to her and rested his head on her lap.

"You okay, Tot?" He nodded and she started rubbing his back slowly.

"You need anything?" He was silent, so she assumed he fell asleep.

Tabitha walked back into the living room and sat next to her mother, sitting the phone on the table before getting comfortable.

"That was quick. What did you two talk about?" Armelle looked down at her daughter and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Stuff." She giggled and leaned up to kiss her mother's cheek before looking back at the television.

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It was dinnertime and the doorbell went off, startling the Harris kids.

They laughed and Armelle got up to answer the door.

"Oh my god!" She pulled her brothers -in-law in for big hugs and let them in the house.

"Who's idea was it?" Terry wrapped his arm around Armelle's shoulders and kissed the side of her head as they walked towards the dining room.

"Toes called me yesterday and asked if we could come today. She begged us, so we couldn't say no." She looked up at Tyler and laughed while shaking her head.

"You can never say no to her." They shared a laugh and as soon as they walked in the dining room, Tabitha jumped up from her seat and hugged her uncles tightly.

Titus latched onto Terry's long leg and laughed as he tried to walk forward.

"What are you feeding my niece and nephew?" He touched the top of Tabitha's head and she laughed before pulling him to the seat next to her.

"Don't look at me. They are Tobias' children, you know. They look exactly like him and it's not fair." She sat down and the guys laughed at their sister-in-law.

"Maybe the next one, Mel." She raised her eyebrow and smirked at Tyler.

"Maybe, Ty." Armelle looked over at her daughter and winked before picking up her fork.

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After dinner, everyone was sprawled across the theatre room seats and kept their eyes glued to the screen as Tobias and the Orlando Magic closed out the game against the Phoenix Suns.

Seeing Tobias play that aggressive made her hot and bothered, so she kept her legs crossed throughout the game.

"Mommy, is daddy gonna be here when we wake up?" Armelle sat on Tabitha's bed and ran her hand over her hair, bending forward to peck her lips before nodding.

"He might even take you to school tomorrow. The faster you fall asleep, the faster he'll get back home." She raised her eyebrows and Tabitha squealed before reaching over to turn off her lamp.

"Goodnight, mommy. I love you." Armelle blew a kiss to her before leaving the room.

Titus was waiting for his mother in bed and she smiled as she jumped in with him.

He giggled and rested his head on her chest after she got comfortable.

"Sweetheart, are you sleeping with mommy tonight?" He nodded and yawned as she kissed the top of his head.

"I love you, mommy." He closed his eyes and pulled the covers over him.

"I love you, angelface. Goodnight." She held him closer to her and sighed before closing her eyes.

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Feeling someone wrap their arms around her body, Armelle shifted and turned around with a smile.

"Baby, you're finally here. I missed you." Tobias kissed her gently and placed his hands in her hair.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

"I missed you too, babe. I see Titus wanted to be with his mommy, huh?" Tobias looked over at Titus sprawled across the other side of the bed and smiled.

"Yeah, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit my chest." She ran her thumb across his bottom lip and he let out a quiet laugh.

She rested her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the scent she was so familiar with.

"Mommy? Can I get in bed with you?" Tabitha approached the bed while rubbing her eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Get up here, Toes." She gasped and jumped onto the bed, hugging her father tightly.

"Daddy, when did you get here?" She kissed his cheek and got between her parents.

"Ten minutes ago. Go back to sleep, Toes." She rested her head on his chest and yawned softly before falling asleep.

Tobias leaned over to kiss his wife before she pulled Titus into her arms. She laid him next to his sister and soon fell asleep after watching her babies for a few minutes.

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That's Tobias, Terry, and Tyler back in middle school in the picture. ❤