Suddenly, right as I was about to give her a shake, a tap, something to make sure she was still with me, Megan spoke. "So... it's humiliation, right?"

I started. "What?"

"That's what you want, right? To embarrass me. Take the cute neighbor lady who'd never given you a second thought as a man down a few pegs on the totem pole." She looked up, studying me.

Never given me a second thought? Ouch. "No, that's not... I mean, you blackmailed me! Don't try to make me out to be the bad guy, Megan. You're the--"

"It can be two things," she interjected. "And I'm not protesting. I'm just... here....