CHAPTER 7: Talk that talk
Over the next week, Enzo decided to keep himself occupied on other things as he waited to text Sasha. By now Cass was beginning to wonder if any of his words got through to his longtime pal. The two were in the middle of beginning a workout session at Enzo and Mandy's house in Morristown, New Jersey as they conversed.
"I still don't understand how you could wait that long to start up a conversation" he said. "It's real simple" said Enzo. "No. I'm lyin'. It's ain't simple. You-well I have to tailor my approach a little differently to each girl sometimes even though they all think the same."
"That's not true" said Cass. "I wanna know who told you all of that mumbled jumbled junk." "Come on I know what women want" said Enzo. "I mean I've seen up close and perfectly for myself and I know exactly what they're after and why they're after it."
Cass chuckled. "It's been 3 days dude. You should probably get around to saying something to her." "Will, patience is the key" Enzo said between chest presses. "You know as well as I do that with the ones who you really want something with, you gotta skate around the edges with a little more care."
"Dude with that thinking man you'll never get married" said Cass. "Married? Who said anything about us gettin' married?" said Enzo. "I like my life to follow specific steps in order to stay on a specific track." "Well as they said" said Cass. "You know when you meet the one, if you know what I mean?" Enzo turned to look at him.
"You mean…?" "Yup" Cass smiled. "Congratulations my man" said Enzo. "I hope she said yes." "She hasn't said anything yet" said Cass. "I'm not planning on popping the question to her until next month. You know, for Valentine's Day?"
"She will" said Enzo. "She loves you very much." "I can't wait" said Cass. "I picked out the ring months ago-it's her birthstone." Cass walked over to Enzo to show him a photo of it. "Nice man" he said. "She's really going to love that."
"So" said Cass. "Back to Mercedes." "Oh her?" Enzo laughed. "Yeah her" said Cass. "Not unless you've already changed your mind and decided to keep seeing Mandy." "It's not that easy bro" said Enzo. "I know it ain't" said Cass. "What about life is?"
"I almost don't know what to say to her" said Enzo. "Eric, just use your charm" said Cass. "You're already confident. Just use it and be yourself and oh yeah-tone it down a bit."
"Tone it down a bit?" Enzo. "Yeah" said Cass. "You have the tendency to come on too strongly. Some girls don't like that. Some do. And since you don't know what she likes and how she likes it…you're going to have to adjust. You've practically said it yourself to a certain degree." Enzo began to stroke his beard. "I think I know what to say to her now."
"And remember" Cass said as he pointed at him. "Tone it down just a bit." "How much is a bit?" Enzo asked. "Come on man" said Cass. "Feel her out." He tossed a towel on his shoulders as he sat down to rest. "You know if Amanda were to find out about this" said Enzo. "She'd kill me."
"Probably" said Cass. "But some things are worth taking a risk." "Would you have done this with Leah?" asked Enzo. "Of course not" said Cass. "And you wanna know why?" "Enlighten me" said Enzo. "Alright" said Cass. "For one starters, I'm actually happy with the woman I'm with so therefore, there's no need for me to look beyond her." "Throw me my phone" Enzo said. Cass reached over to retrieve the iPhone from off of the window seal and tossed it to him.
"What you gonna say to her?" he asked. "You'll see" said Enzo. "Something creative." "Don't get too creative" said Cass. "I know how you let yourself get a little overboard." As Enzo texted, Cass couldn't help but chuckle at his best friend's facial expressions. After all, he hasn't seen him that happy to text someone in a while. "Wanna see?" Enzo asked. "No need to" said Cass. "It's between you two and you two only." "There's just something about her man" Enzo said. "I've known her for almost 5 years and I never thought about her in this way before."
"That's because you were preoccupied with a lotta of stuff back then" said Cass. "Yeah" Enzo said. "Training and women." "Other stuff too bro" said Cass. "Yeah" Enzo said. "How could I ever forget that?" "It'll be alright Rick" said Cass. "No matter what happens. If it works out it works out. If not, then it'll still be alright." "Thanks man" Enzo said.
"But since we're on the topic of what you said to her. What'd you say to her?" Cass asked. "I asked her how was she doing" Enzo said. "No" said Cass. "No you didn't." "You told me to down it down so I did" said Enzo. "And what she say?" asked Cass. "And has she applied yet?" "She immediately did" said Enzo. "And she said she's going to a carnival with some of our coworkers in a few weeks."
"Really?" Cass said. "Where?" "I dunno yet" said Enzo. "She hadn't told me yet." "Well see now" said Cass. "At least she answered. It's a start." "Yeah and-" suddenly, Enzo was interrupted by his phone vibrating. "Is she calling you?" asked Cass. "No" said Enzo. "She just texted me her answer."
"Well don't keep me in suspense. What did she say?" Cass asked. "It's going to be in Houston" said Enzo. "On January 25th-the day after Smackdown and it'll be at 7PM." "See" said Cass. "So far so good." "Yeah she even texted me the address and everything" said Enzo.
"Look like someone's got themselves a date" Cass said. "Hopefully" said Enzo. "I don't like to get too carried away too soon." Cass busted out in laughter. "YOU? TOO CARRIED AWAY!? NAH MAN THAT'S FUCKING HILARIOUS." "You know what I mean Will" said Enzo. As Cass continued to laugh, Mandy suddenly made her way down into the basement.
"What's got him all amused?" she asked. "Nothing" Enzo lied. As Mandy made her way over to him, he quickly turned off his phone. "Hi baby" she said as she kissed him. "You missed me?" "Yeah" Enzo said. "Of course I did." "I thought you were supposed to be in a show in Georgia or something?" Cass said.
"Well I did" said Mandy. "And I obviously came home. NXT is slightly different than the main roster, in case you haven't noticed." Cass did his best to not allow his displeasure show at her sarcasm. "So Eric my love" she continued. "Now that I'm back home…are you ready to get the little surprise I've told you about?" Enzo nodded as Mandy turned to face Cass.
"You can go now" she said. "Zo-zo won't be needing you for a while." Cass gave Enzo an "good luck because you're going to need it look" before standing up. "Guess that's my cue to go man" he said as he walked over to exchange handshakes and pats to each other's back. "See yall later" said Cass. As Cass left, Mandy turned her attention to Enzo.
"Man why does he act like he lives here?" she asked. "The guy lives up the block from me and yet he's always here." "He's my best friend" said Enzo. "Why else would he always be here?" "I don't know and I don't care" said Mandy. "It's really starting to annoy me and lately we haven't been having too much alone time and it's starting to get to me."
"Amanda…" Enzo said. "Don't "Amanda" me" said Mandy. "He's such a nuisance." Enzo felt himself becoming increasingly offended at his girlfriend's words. "Luckily for us…" Mandy continued. "I've already taken the liberty of doing some house hunting." "Wait a minute" said Enzo. "What do you mean you did house hunting?"
"I started since last month" said Mandy. "It was about time I did." "Whoa, whoa, whoa" Enzo said as he lifted her from off of him. "W-what is it baby?" Mandy asked. "So what you're telling me is that you went looking for another home…without me?" Enzo asked. "If so, I'm done talking to you for the rest of the day."
Mandy folded her arms. "You're being a little ridiculous." "I'M RIDUCLOUS!?" Enzo said. "This is my home and it's been my home for the past 2 years." "You ought to calm your nuts" said Mandy. "I said I went house hunting. Did I say I sold the place?" "Listen here doll face" said Enzo. "I ain't going nowhere-got it?" Mandy glared back at her boyfriend as his stern words enraged.
"I don't like your tone" she said. "Well what I don't like is that my girl is out here trying to make moves behind my back by going out searching for another house to live without my knowledge" said Enzo. "I'm tired of him and his girl coming down here everyday" said Mandy. "They act like they're homeless or something. My house isn't a damn shelter."
"You're unbelievable you know that?" Enzo said. "Why of course I am zo-zo" said Mandy as she playfully wrapped her arms around him. "And I'm going to need you always remember that I know all of your greatest sins and should you ever forget…" she removed her arms and took a step back. "Are you threatenin' me?" Enzo asked. "I wouldn't call it a threat" said Mandy. "I would call it…a friendly warning."
"For what?" Enzo sternly asked. "Oh…" Mandy teased. "You know." The color on Enzo's face became red as his anger intensified. "Get the fuck outta here RIGHT NOW!" he yelled.
Mandy smiled at this. After all, she had once again managed to get under his skin. "You get upset way too easy" she said. "You should learn how to control that." Enzo picked up a 60lb dumbbell. "Go ahead and throw it at me" Mandy taunted. "Because I'm sure the world would just love to know that you've decided to add domestic violence to your list of incredibly evil things you've done in your life."
"You act like you're so pure" Enzo said as he gritted his teeth. "Like you're so perfect. Like you haven't done anything before either." "Well Zo-zo I haven't" said Mandy. "At least not anything near what you've done." Enzo dropped the dumbbell down at his side. "Get the fuck outta here Amanda" he said.
"Hmm…why would I?" Mandy asked. "I pay half of the mortgage so therefore, I'm able to move around freely as I so chose." "LEAVE!" Enzo yelled. "I MEAN IT AMANDA."
"You know…" Mandy said. "It's an incredible shame that you're a wolf in sheep's clothing but a sexy guy at the same time." She turned to exit the basement, leaving Enzo to let out a softened wail as he covered his face with his hands. Perhaps his friends actually had a valid point after all. More importantly, perhaps he should begin to start to take Mandy's ways seriously.
Truth was, Mandy had a point. He wasn't always the best or nicest person in his life and as a result, he was now forced to be hiding a dark secret that only he and those closest to him knew about. Question was…would the secret be able to stay one for much longer?
A/N: Thank you again for all of your reviews they're much appreciated. Also…I wonder what Mandy has on Enzo anyway? Find out soon….
~Emerald loves sapphire~