Free Trusting Him by Brenda Minton

sidewalk to Michael.
    Michael pulled off his helmet and brushed a hand through his hair. Noah smiled, an envious gleam in his eyes.
    "You bought a bike." He shook his head. "Interesting way to spend some trust-fund money."
    "It's used, and it saves on gas money."
    "You got me there." Noah glanced back at the house. "Are you ready for this?"
    "Not at all. I'm thinking about not going in."
    "They'll understand if you escape."
    "I don't want to hurt them." It was a little too late for that.
    "Dad knows that it's too soon. He'll explain to Mom." Noah pulled a package of spearmint gum out of his pocket and offered Michael a piece. "Go for a ride, Michael, and clear your head. You might decide to come back."
    "I think I will take that drive. I'll probably be back."
    Before he pulled away, Michael dialed his cell phone and tested his Bluetooth after putting on his helmet. He didn't stop to consider his actions. If he thought about it, he would question his sanity, and his reason.
    "Hello?"
    Michael didn't respond until her second hello. He had pulled out of River Oaks onto the highway. He needed those extra seconds as he shifted gears to adjust to what he'd just done. Common sense told him this was a mistake. It was too late now.
    "Maggie, I'm glad you're still there."
    He listened and thought he heard the shuffle of papers and the soft exhale of a breath. In the background he heard music; a gospel station.
    "Of course I'm still here. I'm overworked, overdedicated, and I think someone called me overzealous. But I'm actually just relaxing, reading a book and drinking a cup of coffee."
    Relaxing. He couldn't have imagined that hearing her voice would have that effect on him, but it did. She sounded as though his call hadn't bothered her. For the time being he didn't hear hesitation or caution in her tone.
    "So, what do you want?" she asked. "And why do you sound so muffled?"
    "I'm on my cell phone, and what I want is a friend I can count on."
    She remained quiet and he wondered what might be going through her mind.
    "Shocked into silence, aren't you?" He laughed into his end of the phone and heard her soft chuckle. She should laugh more often. For some reason she calmed him, made him feel grounded. That didn't really make sense, considering that half the time she acted like she didn't even like him.
    "Yes, you shocked me. Don't tell my grandmother I can be silent. Not that she would believe it." She paused. "So, what do you really want?"
    She hadn't bought it, that he wanted her friendship. But he did. Since he even found it hard to believe, he shouldn't be shocked that she felt the same way. He looked down at the speedometer.
    "There's a party going on in my honor."
    "And so you're driving around in your car? That makes a lot of sense."
    "I couldn't go in." He shifted and slowed to make the next turn.
    "You've lost me."
    "I wanted to know if you would go with me. I know that sounds crazy, and I'll understand if you don't want to go. Why would you want to go when I don't want to go? Right?"
    She didn't answer. He wondered what thoughts were going through her mind. Was she considering her reputation? How it would look to be seen with him, with an ex-con. Or did she care?
    "I don't know…" she started.
    "Is it because— "
    This time she cut him off. "No, Michael, that has nothing to do with it. I just don't understand why you would call me. You have friends."
    "All of my friends have moved on with their lives. They have families now, or activities that keep them busy. The people at my mom's house aren't there to be friends. They're there because they like to gossip, and maybe because they're curious. Or they showed up to support my parents. It isn't about me."
    "So you thought you'd invite me? Why? To give them something to talk about besides you?"
    He wondered at that comment, but knew she wouldn't explain.
    "I'm inviting you because I know where you stand. One thing about you, Maggie Simmons, is you're honest."
    "I'm not sure if you