Surviving the Teenage Dream Teaser

“What’s going on?”

“Steve is on the phone with Ricky, trying to calm him down,” Owen explained, sitting down next to me. “Dad kind of flipped his lid when he found out about Mackenzie almost running over his oldest daughter. He’s ready to fire Steve, or at least cause him significant bodily harm.”

“It wasn’t his fault, Wan,” I said, crossing my arms. I groaned as my body ached from the movement. 

“It was my fault. I’m the one who ran off.”

“You may have run off, but you’re the second charge under Steve’s protection that was hurt,” Owen said, grimacing slightly. “I was the first and now you.”

“If Dad fires Steve, I’m going to go postal on his ass,” I spat, punching the bed. “It. Was. Not. His. Fault.”

“Kyra, it was,” Steve said, shoving his phone into his back pocket. “It was my actions that caused you to leave the physical therapist. My callousness and my lack of coping skills that hurt you. I’ve never really dealt with the death of Thea. I loved her a great deal and I always will. There is something else that I was prepared for and that’s why I shut down. I’m so sorry, Kyra.” He gulped and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I was just on the phone with my Dad. He is trying to stop me from doing this, but once your father gets here, I’m handing in my resignation. I’m just too close to the situation. It’s for the best.”

“Steve, don’t,” I whispered, looking up at him. “Don’t leave. You’re an invaluable member of this team, of our family.”

“I won’t put your life, or the life of your family at risk, Kyra,” Steve said, smiling sadly.

“That was the smartest thing you’ve said since I’ve hired you,” Dad said coldly, glaring at Steve.

“Dad!” I barked. “Don’t.”

“Steve, come with me,” Ricky said sternly. “Mr. Edward, we’ll talk more once we get back to the house.”

“Make sure that he’s gone by the time we get back,” Dad snarled, narrowing his eyes at Ricky. Ricky didn’t respond, just nodded and escorted Steve out of the room. Once they were gone, Dad came over to me and sat down, his hands hovering over my body. “Kyra … principessa …”

“Daddy, I’m fine,” I said. “Just a bump on the head, some scrapes on my back and a bum foot.”

“And it was Mackenzie in the car?” he asked, squeezing my hand. “Are you sure?”

“Definitely,” I nodded. “She looked crazed. I could hear her screaming over the car’s engine.”

“Steve said that the traffic cameras caught the whole thing on film,” Owen said. “He had spoken to one of the police officers on scene while he was waiting for the ambulance to show up.” He shifted uncomfortably, grimacing slightly from his seat. “There will be cops here at some point or you’ll have to talk to them at home.”

“What about Steve?” I asked. “Will they talk to him, too?” Dad scoffed. “Stop it, Daddy. He’s the one who got me out of the way of the car. My feet were planted on the ground. I couldn’t move.” I crossed my arms and huffed angrily. My head was throbbing and arguing with my father was not helping the situation.

“Kyra, it’s just that someone tried to run you over,” Dad whispered, his warm hands taking mine. 

“Steve should have kept you safe.”

“He did!” I yelled. “Ugh!” My hands flew to my head as it throbbed uncontrollably. Dad looked at Owen. My brother got up, finding Beth and Dr. Peters. I was administered some medication to dull the agony and I drifted off into a loopy wonderland. When I woke up next, it was when I was being moved into a private room since I was going to be admitted. My concussion and my loss consciousness concerned Dr. Peters along with the horrific migraine I was suffering.