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“Right,” Tiana mumbled, rolling her eyes. “If you want her, why don’t you do something about it?”

Sam continued moving distractedly to the beat of the music.

“I don’t,” she muttered, hearing the lie in her own voice. “And even if I did, she just got out of a relationship. Trust me, she needs a friend right now. She doesn’t want..” She trailed off as she glanced back at Jess. “She doesn’t want that.”

Tiana looked back at her, all the teasing amusement replaced with a serious look. “What about whatyouwant?” she asked. “You always put everyone else’s needs first. And I love you for that, but—” She paused, releasing a breath. “You’re gonna drive yourself crazy. You have to go after what youwant sometimes, too.”

Sam swallowed, her eyes flicking back up to Jess. She watched as the woman moved closer, wrapping one arm around Jess’ waist as she turned them.

Sam looked back at Tiana, shaking her head. “She doesn’t want that.”

“Oh please,” Tiana scoffed. “She looks like she wants to kill me every time I touch you.”

Sam shot her a look, brows tugging together. “That’s not true.”

“It’s not?” Tiana asked, quirking one eyebrow up in challenge. “How about we test that and see who’s right?”

“What do you—”

Before Sam could finish the sentence, Tiana stepped closer to her, sliding one hand around her lower back. She pulled their bodies closer, then turned until her back was flush against Sam’s front.

Sam stiffened slightly as Tiana swayed her hips. She ground purposely against her, the curves of her back rolling over every intimate spot.

And she let Tiana take her hands, gently wrapping them around her hips. Then she reached one hand up, wrapping it around Sam’s neck and pulling her head down slightly.

Sam gave her a cautious, curious look as Tiana gazed deeply into her eyes.

Then, right when she thought Tiana might try to kiss her, she turned her head slightly, kissing her neck instead in a slow, much too intimate way.

Sam swallowed thickly, waiting a beat before pulling her head away.

She barely caught the split-second where Tiana glanced at some spot ahead of them on the dance floor. And after she did, she turned her body back to Sam, twisting in her arms.

Tiana’s hands slid around her in an embrace, still swaying to the beat of the music. Then she chuckled near her ear as she whispered, “I win.”

Sam glanced up to where Tiana had looked a moment before. And sure enough, she was right.

Jess stood there, a foot or so of space now firmly placed between her and the woman she’d been dancing with.

She stared at them, not meeting Sam’s eyes, but instead, her eyes seemed to meticulously trail over their entwined bodies. Her mouth was set, lips slightly pursed together, but her eyes held an intensity that was oddly familiar. Although she couldn’t quite place the memory in which she’d seen it last.

“Or do you need me to prove it again?” Tiana muttered, shooting her a mischievous smirk before letting her lips drift over her neck once more.

Sam pulled away as she snorted a dry laugh. “No. You made your point.”

She removed her hands from Tiana’s hips, stepping back slightly.

“That doesn’t mean she wants me, though. I already know it’s weird for her to see me with someone else like—that.”

Tiana rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, shaking her head. “You’re so oblivious sometimes.”

Sam frowned, scratching a hand over the back of her neck.

“Come on,” Tiana nodded, leading them off the dance floor

They made their way to the bar, squeezing in between a group of people. Tiana leaned against the counter, still catching her breath from the dance floor.

Tiana’s smirk softened into something more sincere as she glanced back at Sam. “You know, I think I’ve done enough meddling for one night,” she said, raising her voice over the music. “I’m gonna head back early.”