Page 41 of Amber: Deja Brew

Chapter 15

Amber

Sometime during the night, Chase and Wes get back and slip into bed. They stay fully clothed, and all we do is sleep, but it soothes me, having my mates by my side.

The next morning, I wake up feeling content and relaxed. Yes, the bad Screech reviews are still out there, and possibly someone, other than Karma, who cursed the sink, but I decide to worry about all that after my morning cappuccino. Right now, while I’m half-asleep, I’d much rather be mentally reliving every moment of last night with Julian.

I’m smiling as I make my way downstairs and make a beeline for the counter. I’m just about to shift into Troll Cop Liam so I can reach everything I need from here, when I hear heavy footsteps coming downstairs. Chase!

Do I shift into a big, hairy guy in front of my mate? No. Then I’ll never get to see his carrot!

I should pick someone else—someone more attractive—preferably someone with boobs instead of junk. But do I know anyone who fits the bill and is tall enough to make a cappuccino? Rose and Sapphire are too short, and so is Ruby, the angel from the shoe store. And Karma the mermaid is definitely—

“Hey, Amber,” Chase says from behind me, and I start to shift.

I try to grab the counter, but it’s too far out of reach. Plus, everything happens so fast. One second I’m standing, and the next I come crashing down to the floor.

“Amber! Are you hurt? Is anything broken?” Chase rushes over and falls to his knees next to me.

“I’m fine,” I say while I flop around on the floor like a fish. Because of all the taller-than-me supes I could have picked, I went and shifted into a mermaid. Who doesn’t even have any legs! I groan and rub my sore palms... but hey, that sure beats sore boobs. “Karma was right. I bent my elbows, and the fall wasn’t anywhere near as bad.”

“It looked pretty bad,” Chase says, brushing some of my pink hair from my face. “What happened? Why did you shift?”

Because I was going to turn into a troll to grab a cappuccino, and you distracted me, I think. Except I’m not going to tell Chase that. So I go with the next best thing, “I guess I must have been thinking about yesterday...”

Chase nods. “Does this sort of thing happen a lot?”

“Turning into mermaids? Nope, first time. Karma’s actually the first mermaid I’ve met.”

“Same here.” Chase grins happily. “That’s what I love about living in Silver Springs. I get to meet so many new supes. Dragon shifters, trolls, angels, demons, mermaids...”

Chase’s excitement is infectious, and I can’t help grinning back. “It is pretty great. At least, it is when I don’t end up on the floor with a tail.”

“Do you want me to get you anything to make you more comfortable? A pillow? A blanket?”

“A cappuccino would be nice, actually. And a swimming pool. Not that you can bring me an actual swimming pool, but a girl can dream.”

“If you shifted in a pool, would you be able to breathe underwater?” Chase asks.

“I should be. As long as I don’t suddenly shift into someone else.”

“Would you ever try it?” Chase asks.

“Sure. I’ve shifted into bird shifters a bunch of times and tried flying.”

“Really?” Chase asks, getting to his feet. “I’m listening, by the way. I’m just going to get started on your early morning caffeine fix.”

“Thanks, Chase. Are you usually up this early?”

“Normally, no. But I knew you’d get up early, and I wanted to spend more time with you.”

“That’s really sweet, Chase. I want to spend time with you, too,” I tell him, suddenly feeling all warm and gooey inside, like I’m floating in the Hot Springs. Not that I’ve had the chance to check out the Hot Springs, but apparently that’s a feeling my mermaid body seems to know.

“So, um...” Chase says, sounding flustered, which just ups the Hot Springs feeling. “What was flying like?”

“Scary. I always have to be super careful about how high I go. You know, in case I shift back. And I always crash into stuff, which can hurt. But it’s also fun.”

“Have you ever gotten seriously hurt?”