Chapter 5- Heartbreak
It was late January when Pam messaged me on the road: we needed to talk when she got back Saturday. Panic set in. Was she breaking up with me? Alone for the weekend, I sat in the dark, nerves raw. My phone lit up—Pam again. I ignored it and switched my phone off.
I finally dragged myself to bed. The doorbell woke me, but I ignored it and continued to sleep. When I checked my phone, I saw dozens of missed calls and texts. Tears spent, I forced myself up and into the shower. Then the doorbell rang again. Annoyed, I checked the Ring app—half a dozen WWE girls were clustered at my door, determined to get in. Demi called Pam for permission, and someone punched in my alarm code at the back door.
I finally dragged myself to bed. The doorbell woke me, but I ignored it and continued to sleep. When I checked my phone, I saw dozens of missed calls and texts. Tears spent, I forced myself up and into the shower. Then the doorbell rang again. Annoyed, I checked the Ring app—half a dozen WWE girls were clustered at my door, determined to get in. Demi called Pam for permission, and someone punched in my alarm code at the back door.
In a rush to keep the girls out, I threw on a blanket and ran upstairs, yelling, “I’m not decent!” Demi called, “It’s nothing we haven’t seen before!” I tripped near the top step and snapped, “Damn it, what do you want? Leave me alone.” I sat down, lost it, and cried. A hand rested on my shoulder—Sydney. “What’s going on?” she asked. I confessed my fear that Pam was ending things. Daria looked worried. Mercedes handed me an ice pack. Demi helped me up and hugged me.
Downstairs, the girls gathered. Sydney fetched the pizza. “We’re staying with you tonight. You shouldn’t be alone,” Demi said. After dinner, we drew straws—Demi picked the horror movie. We all crowded into my bedroom. Tori, who joined after dinner, groaned at Demi’s choice of ‘Terrifier.’
Downstairs, the girls gathered. Sydney fetched the pizza. “We’re staying with you tonight. You shouldn’t be alone,” Demi said. After dinner, we drew straws—Demi picked the horror movie. We all crowded into my bedroom. Tori, who joined after dinner, groaned at Demi’s choice of ‘Terrifier.’
Halfway through the movie, Mercedes took a call and returned looking guilty. I shrugged it off, distracted as Sydney howled in disgust at the screen. Daria and I were equally grossed out.
Hours later, Sydney woke me. She thought she heard someone downstairs. I reassured her it was probably Cathy, but she wasn’t there. Suddenly, there was a crash. We rushed to the stairs as the hallway light snapped on. Startled, we screamed at Ryan—my ex-husband—who explained the kids were worried. After confirming I was fine, he left. We were heading back upstairs when we heard shouting outside.
Ryan’s shout echoed as Pam tackled him on the lawn. “Breaking into my girlfriend’s house?” she snapped. Sirens approached. “Pam, it’s fine. He was checking on me because of our girls,” I told her, pulling her off him as police arrived. I sent everyone inside and stayed to calm Ryan.
That’s when things went wrong. Ryan pleaded to reconcile. “No, Ryan. We’re done. Pam protected me selflessly—something you never did. Please leave.” As I walked away, he grabbed me and slapped me. “Dating a woman is nonsense,” he spat. Police arrived. “Ma’am, press charges?” “No, just a report for an order of protection,” I replied. The officer warned Ryan, who finally left.
Hours later, Sydney woke me. She thought she heard someone downstairs. I reassured her it was probably Cathy, but she wasn’t there. Suddenly, there was a crash. We rushed to the stairs as the hallway light snapped on. Startled, we screamed at Ryan—my ex-husband—who explained the kids were worried. After confirming I was fine, he left. We were heading back upstairs when we heard shouting outside.
Ryan’s shout echoed as Pam tackled him on the lawn. “Breaking into my girlfriend’s house?” she snapped. Sirens approached. “Pam, it’s fine. He was checking on me because of our girls,” I told her, pulling her off him as police arrived. I sent everyone inside and stayed to calm Ryan.
That’s when things went wrong. Ryan pleaded to reconcile. “No, Ryan. We’re done. Pam protected me selflessly—something you never did. Please leave.” As I walked away, he grabbed me and slapped me. “Dating a woman is nonsense,” he spat. Police arrived. “Ma’am, press charges?” “No, just a report for an order of protection,” I replied. The officer warned Ryan, who finally left.