Free Love and War by Jackie Chanel Page B

are,” Diesel replied. “Y’all be goin ’ nuts when a nigga be checkin ’ for other hoes.”
    “Did you just use bitches and hoes in the same sentence while talking to me?” Caprice raised her eyebrows. “I am neither one of those things so I can’t relate. Let’s just say, I don’t give a damn who Aries spends his time with. He has hoes all over this city. He’s gotta get some ass from somewhere since…” Caprice paused and burst out laughing. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    Diesel tried to erase the surprised expression from his face and failed. “You sayin ’ Aries ain’t tapped that yet? You sayin ’ that nigga lied? Are you fuckin’ serious, Caprice?” Diesel howled.
    “He said he slept with me?” Caprice had to laugh also. A man as powerful as Aries bragging about some pussy he hadn’t even tasted was a damn shame.
    “Yeah,” Diesel nodded. “Said you were just like the rest of them. Said you act different, but you gave it up just like they all do.”
    “Well, that’s a lie.”   Caprice leaned back in her chair and grinned. “It takes a lot more than a fat bankroll and a pretty smile to get in my pants.”
    Diesel, still laughing, nodded. “Apparently. I can’t believe that nigga lied. You got any music?”
    “My iPod’s over there.”   Caprice pointed towards the entertainment system that Rocco installed when she moved in.
    Diesel hit play and classic Def Leppard filled the comfortable silence. Caprice grinned sheepishly when Diesel raised his eyebrows at her.
    “What?” she giggled. “I was working out, and I like working out to Def Leppard . Nothing makes me sweat like Pour Some Sugar on Me .”
    Diesel switched her Workout playlist to the one named 90s R&B and sat on the sofa. “You’re an interesting chick.”
    “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “You should,” Diesel said with his eyes closed. “Most chicks are boring.”
    Caprice stared at Diesel who was mouthing the words to Keith Sweat’s Twisted with his head on one of the sofa pillows and his eyes closed. She wanted to return the compliment. She wanted to join him on the couch, but she did neither. Instead, she went back to her Finance study guide. An hour later, she looked at her watch. It was almost ten o’clock and Keisha still hadn’t shown up. Caprice sent her a text and a few minutes later, Keisha replied.
    Girl! My mother is trippin !   She got into it with her man & he kicked her ass. I’m @ the ER w/ her now. Did Diesel show up there?
    Caprice glanced over at her sofa. Diesel still had his eyes closed. She couldn’t tell if he was really into the music or if he was sleeping. All she knew was that she didn’t want Keisha coming to her house.
    No , she texted back. Why would Diesel be over here?
    I told him to meet me there
    He hasn’t showed up here
    It’s cool. I’ll hook up with him some other time. Gotta take care of my momma anyway. Call you tomorrow
    Okay. Bye.
    Caprice turned off her phone and walked into the living room. She sat down next to Diesel and rested her hand on his knee.
    “Hey,” she said softly. “Are you asleep?”
    “No.”
    “I texted Keisha. She’s at the ER with her mom. She said she’ll hook up with you another time.”
    “Whatever.”
    “Damn, Grumpy,” Caprice laughed. “I’m sure you have plenty of girls that want to spend a Friday night with you. I mean, you are cuter than Aries and nicer too. I’m sure you have a stable of bitches, just like him.”
    “Maybe. Maybe not,” was Diesel’s sleepy reply. “Why do you care?”
    “I don’t, but I know how guys like you operate.”
    Diesel turned his head and stared intensely at Caprice. His eyes were light brown, almost hazel. His lips were full and glistened when he licked them. Every second that he looked at her felt like a minute. Caprice wanted to look away but she couldn’t. Thoughts of Rocco and even Aries were fleeing every second that his eyes met hers. Then Diesel smiled and