Free Holding Her Close (Bits and Bytes, Book 0) (Bits & Bytes) by Allyson Lindt Page A

loud pounding interrupted. Both of them froze, Scott's gaze locked on hers.
    She stared back, a frown driving into erase her amusement. She ignored the whisper of relief trickling through her. Why was this happening between them now? No, that was the wrong question. She should be wondering why she couldn’t get into it. Why it hadn’t happened sooner. “You should probably get that.”
    The doorbell rang, followed by another round of pounding. He stood. “Yeah. I guess so.”
    W hat kind of random visitors did he get on a Saturday afternoon? As soon as the question crossed her mind, she had awkward flashes of the weekend before and watching Zach served with the letter that might as well have been a death sentence.
    Her gut flipped when she saw a FedEx guy in the doorway.
    “Letter for Scott McAllister, can you sign?”
    Scott reached for the digital clipboard. “Sure.”
    The man in purple studied the signature for a second. “Last name?”
    “ McAllister?”
    “ Great. Thanks.” He handed over the envelope and was gone.
    Scott turned, frown deepening when he looked at her. She had righted herself and was watching him with concern.
    She smiled, but the expression faded again quickly. It was just a coincidence, right? A random delivery that had nothing to do with bad news? The DM logo glared at her from across the room. “I'm starting to think I shouldn't visit you guys on weekends.”
    He raised an eyebrow, and then shook his head. He flopped down on the couch next to her and dropped the envelope into his lap. The soft overhead lights glared off the stark white.
    The silence sank in, a heavy buzz growing in her ears. Finally she nudged his arm with her shoulder. “You have to open it sometime. It’s just a letter.”
    He nodded, but still didn’t move.
    She didn’t blame him. After the week of downs they’d had, she wouldn’t want to see what the parent company said either. She tugged it from his lap and yanked the pull strip. The tearing sound echoed in the emptiness. She dropped the contents into her hand, and the embossed letterhead glinted in the light.
    It took will -power not to read it herself, but this wasn’t for her. She handed the short stack of papers back to Scott, and then tucked her hands into her lap. Maybe she should leave.
    He muttered as he read, and within minutes had his phone out.
    “I should go.” She didn’t need to be a part of whatever this was. She could get the details later.
    “ It’ll only take a minute.” He nodded back to the couch. “Hey,” he said into the phone. “You get this?”
    She hovered at the edge of the cushion, not having to ask who he was talking to. So awkward.
    Scott set the phone on the coffee table. “At least they're still paying us.” His joke sounded forced. “I mean, the suspension is only temporary, right?”
    “ For now.” Zach’s voice echoed from the speakerphone. “You haven’t shown the layoff list to anyone, have you?”
    Rae’s back went rigid. Now was definitely her cue to leave. She stood.
    Scott shook his head and nodded to the couch again. “Just a sec,” he whispered. In a normal-volume he said, “I just got it. Who would I show?” He paced as he talked, socks shuffling against plush carpet.
    “ Same person you always show.” Zach’s disembodied voice was heavy with irritation.
    A sick feeling grew in her stomach. Part of it was attached to h is response; he was talking about her. But the rest of it hadn’t found a reason yet.
    “ I don’t have to show you,” he said to the phone. “You already know.” Scott gave Rae a weak smile and a wink.
    “ Clever.” Zach’s exhaled echoed through the receiver. “Just, maybe this once keep it between us?” There was a surrender in the plea that surprised Rae.
    “ I’m not stupid.” Scott wouldn’t look at her. His gaze was locked on the ground, following his footsteps.
    And her ill feeling grew. A layoff list they wouldn’t tell her about. “Chloe.” The name