Spencer doubled over with laughter. "No! Stop! I can’t take it!"

Ashley continued to tickle her stomach and started towards her underarms. "Say I’m the best looking woman you’ve ever met. Say it!"

Spencer shrieked with laughter. "No! You’re a freak!"  

Ashley attacked her underarms and tickled her without mercy. "Say it!"

Spencer gasped for breath. "All right, all right! You’re a sex goddess! I cower before your womanly prowess. Your overwhelming sexuality makes me swoon!" She faked a faint right there and fell into Ashley’s arms.

Ashley grinned. "That’s what I thought!" She wrapped her arms around Spencer. "Now, to make up for your utter lack of faith in my sexiness, you’ll have to soothe my wounded ego with a kiss."

Spencer’s eyes widened.
Ashley’s lips slowly descended towards hers.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then…

 "Spencer, hey!"

Damn it.
 
"Hey Chelsea! Rebecca, Nicole!" Spencer disentangled herself from Ashley’s arms balefully.

 "This is my sister’s best friend, Ashley. Ashley, these are my friends from the squad, Chelsea, Rebecca and Nicole."

 "Ladies, it’s a pleasure to meet you." Ashley smiled winningly and proceeded to kiss each of their hands.

The girls melted.
Spencer seethed.

 "God, you’re so hot! Spencer, where have you been hiding this girl?" Rebecca murmured, sidling up to Ashley.

 "Yeah Spence, it’s like you’re always hording the hot girls. First Megan, now this goddess. How do you do it?" Nicole said, catching hold of Ashley’s other arm and weaving herself close to the brunettes side.
 
Spencer rolled her eyes. Were these girls actually her friends?

 "Actually ladies, I’m just in from New York for a few weeks. Here for my best friend’s wedding." Ashley replied, moving back a few inches from both girls.

 "Hey Spencer. How come you’re not out with Kyla? Doesn’t she usually drag you around on the weekends to those god awful Bridal Expo’s?" Chelsea inquired.

Thank God for Chelsea. If it wasn’t for her, Spencer didn’t know how she’d have lasted so long with these intellectual nitwits.

"Hey Chels. Actually, I ended up getting out of it. Thank God. One more afternoon of bridally fun with Kyla and I might just kill myself." Spencer feigned pointing a gun at her head and pulled the trigger.

Chelsea swatted at her hand playfully. "At least you don’t have to wear that abomination of a bridesmaid dress! The orange is literally radioactive. Besides – dark complexion? Hello! I’m going to look like a walking disaster!"

Spencer laughed. "Sorry about that. It’s just the perks of being the Maid of Honor! In a few minutes I’m going to head down to Betsey Johnson and buy that little black number we checked out the other day."

Rebecca smiled. "Well, if you’re gonna have to go buy that dress, why don’t I stay here and keep Ashley company? I’m sure she wouldn’t want to go shopping anymore."

Nicole frowned and grabbed Ashley’s arm. "Actually, why don’t I stay here with Ashley and you can go help Spencer with her dress thing."

Rebecca narrowed her eyes and tugged Ashley’s other arm.
Nicole grit her teeth and tugged back.

 "Ladies, please! I’m not a piñata. There’s plenty of me to go around." Ashley put her arms around both girls and smiled.

Spencer growled.
Ashley turned to her in surprise.

Chelsea looked shocked. "Spencer, did you just growl?"

Spencer blushed. "No! That was… uh… my stomach! I’m in dire need of food."

Ashley immediately came forward to take her arm. "Do you want to stop somewhere and get something?"

Spencer scowled at her. "No thanks, Romeo. Why don’t you just stay here. I have to meet Megan for lunch anyway." She turned to go. "You wanna come with, Chels?"

Chelsea gave her friends a puzzled look and hurried after Spencer.

 "What was that all about?" Rebecca asked.

Ashley squinted after Spencer’s retreating figure.
 "I don’t know."