“Come on, Kate,” Lauren sat on the bed, pretending to pout. “You know this is our last chance to get together before Jess and I head off to college. We’re going to be separated by hundreds of miles and you know you’ll miss us then!”

“But why a sleepover of all things?” Kate complained. “Why couldn’t we hit the clubs? I was hoping to pick up tonight.”

“Tonight is just about us.” Jessica stretched out on her sleeping bag, her pyjama top riding up to expose the smooth, dark skin of her midriff. Kate watched her lithe form keenly. “I suppose it mightn’t be so bad…”

“Now you’re getting it!” Lauren bounced onto her knees, the oversized t-shirt she was wearing brushing against her thighs. “Remember how much fun we had at our sleepovers when we were kids? We’d stay up all night talking about boys, doing each others hair, playing truth or dare…”

“Practicing our kissing on each other,” Jessica continued with a wink. Lauren blushed bright red and Kate raised an eyebrow, rolling out her own sleeping bag.

“Well, when you put it that way,” she said with a grin. “I suppose I can suffer through one night with you two.”