Nice (Neighbors book 1) (re-published)

I get it.

"Have you seen Axelle's ass, Brice?" Claire asks mischievously "It's so nice! Not in a gay way but it's so round and there's almost no cellulite."

Brice chokes on his beer trying to laugh. "Is it really?"

"Yes" Shay interjects drunkenly "if you weren't here she'd be in her panties" she sings-songs.

"Oh God shut up! No more wine for you guys!" I yell swiping their wine glasses before they can protest. "Let's go bitches, bedtime." I chide as they follow me to the guest rooms. Once they were safely tucked in; Brice and I make our way back to the dining room to clean up the mess.

We clean in silence for what feels like forever until I finally find the courage to speak.

"Thanks for not revealing to them you've seen my ass already."

"No problem but she was right you do have a nice ass" he lightheartedly answers. We continue with small talk for a few moments then the urge to ask him a question hit me.

"I have a question, why are you single?" The question just popped out like word vomit.

"I just am." he answered while putting dishes in my dishwasher the way I would.

"Really, I mean you're hot, a good listener, your helpful, and I assume your successful. So, come on why?" I persisted.

"I try not to get too attached to women. Especially the ones I know won't be more than a one night stand. I guess I'm just looking for something more than an easy lay, you know." He turns to look me in the eyes.

"I get it." It came out like a whisper.

Which I so did. I mean in my own way I wanted a man who would see me as more than a quick lay. Someone I could have nights like this with, but instead I get stuck with losers.

"So your real name's Axelle. But you go by Elle? What's the story behind that?" he continued, unfazed by my last question.

Taking a breath and averting my gaze to the floor for courage, I opened my mouth and told him what he wanted to know. "My mom always used my full name. And when I went to school and met Shay she dubbed me 'Elle'. My mom despised the fact I wanted to go by a nickname," I paused then continued. "She used to say 'your full name is beautiful. If you used it more often people would tell you so". We'd go back and forth about it but I'd always win. So after I moved out and went to college I started to go by Elle."

"But why don't you like it? I mean it is a nice name," he comments.

"Axel, with one 'L', is my dad's name. He wanted a boy but instead got me. My mom used to say we were the same in a lot of ways. That used to piss me off because I wanted to be my own person." I confessed. "Using the name made me feel like I failed in a way".

"I get it." was all he said before we went back to cleaning. He sensed the need for silence, which was fine by me. Thirty minutes later he left. For some odd reason his absence made me sad. Not wanting to dwell on it any longer, I headed to bed.