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“How much coffee did you give her?” I groaned at Nash.

“I think we both know the answer,” Nash shook her head.

“Come on, come on, come on! We don’t have time to waste!” Blade was bouncing across the bed now, straddling my hips as she tried to pry the blanket away from my grasp.

And given what I was about to get up to before she came in here, the pressure on my clit was not helping her argument to get me out of the bed.

A soft moan escaped my lips, but she must have mistaken it for tiredness. Instead, she brought her face closer to mine, peppering the bridge of my nose with kisses. “Get pumped, Trinket! Today’s going to be awesome.”

Nash leaned against the doorway with a sigh, “We don’t all wake up with sunbeams shining out of our ass, Blade. Maybe give her a second to wake up and have some food. Some coffee even. Then we can worry about getting pumped.”

Nodding sleepily, I concurred, “I’m not even dressed yet.”

Peeling back the sheets to expose my half-naked body, Blade smiled mischievously. “I think what you’re wearing is just great, Trinket.”

But before she could slide her hand beneath the covers, Nash was hauling her off the bed by the scruff. “Breakfast is ready in the kitchen when you are.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, unsure whether I should be grateful or peeved that she’d stopped Blade from getting distracted.

Once the door shut behind them, I rolled out of the bed, stretching my legs toward the ground. My lovers hadn’t mentioned a dress code, but based on the Paul Bunyon cosplay Blade was rocking, I got the impression that I should try for something a bit festive.

I wasn’t sure what I had that could match her feral fall energy, but for her sake, I’d try. Dragging my blanket along with me, I crossed over to the dresser, picking through the mountains of clothing for something suitable.

Every time I thought that I had a handle on my wardrobe, it felt like it grew. I was half-convinced the Freaks were buying me new clothes and slipping them in here when I wasn’t looking. They knew I wouldn’t let them spend the money on me, but what was I going to do if things just kept appearing?

Eventually, I settled on a knit black and gray striped sweater dress with a pair of fishnets underneath it. Throwing a leather jacket on and running a brush through my hair, I took in the outfit. With my platform boots, it wouldn’t exactly give comfy cozy fall vibes. But it would give spooky season, and that was still the spirit, right?

Close enough.

Brushing my teeth and throwing on a quick bit of eyeliner, I headed out to the kitchen. I was nervous that I’d taken too long — Blade had looked fit to burst the first time she came into my room. So I could only imagine how much more excited she would be now.

But to my surprise, the Freaks were all waiting patiently in the living room. Even Blade, whose foot never stopped tapping the ground.

“That was fast,” Nash murmured, standing up to grab me a plate. “Breakfast?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. She looked even hotter with the sleep rubbed from my eyes: her crewneck looked cozy, but the way it draped over her shoulders only accentuated the muscle hiding beneath the knit.

Food wasn’t the only thing I was hungry for. Still I nodded, thanking her as she passed me a breakfast burrito. Lifting the burrito to my mouth, I set my gaze on Cyrus. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” She tried to act nonchalant, but the way her eyes flicked up and down my body told me that last night was still on her mind too.

Good. I smirked as I took the first bite of the burrito: the chorizo and eggs were cooked to perfection, balanced expertly with a sweet salsa.

But I didn’t have time for a second bite before Blade was grabbing me by the elbow and dragging me toward the door. “Come on, we’ve gotta go!”

“But I just⁠—”

“You can eat in the car.”

Cyrus perked up. “Whose car do you think you’re⁠—?”

“We’ve gotta get there before kids take over the place! They’re going to get all the good shit! Come on!”

As Cyrus rose from the couch and strode to the door, I expected her to put up more of a fight. But to my surprise, she just pulled on her boots with a sigh.

Looking to Nash, I widened my eyes in a silent gesture of what the fuck.

But she just rolled her eyes as she pressed a to-go coffee into my hand. “Family holiday. We’ve all got our fall traditions. And this one is Blade’s.”