Page 70 of The Complication with the Best Man

But Harper stands and walks toward me. “It’s easier to just go with it,” she says under her breath. “It will get this over with faster if you do.”

“Let me grab a blanket from the kit before you get on the floor,” I grumble.

I lay it out flat on the floor, then help her get down. She stretches out onto her back, staring up at me. Positioning myself beside her and facing the audience, I get onto my knees.

I start with why CPR is so important and what it’s doing, then explain compressions, pointing to where on Harper’s chest would be the correct spot to administer it.

“I think you should show us. Where do we place our hands?” Alice asks, leaning forward in her seat.

With a sigh, I show them how to arrange their hands, then look down at Harper. “Are you okay if I put my hands on you?”

“You’ve already had your hands on her from what I hear,” the man beside Alice says and laughs.

“Maybe it was an immaculate conception,” Melvin says, and everyone laughs harder.

My face heats with embarrassment. I feel like a comedian, but I’m not telling any jokes.

Harper turns her head and looks at the audience. “Knock it off. Finn is here to help you guys out.”

That quiets everyone, and I give her a small smile in thanks.

“You’d place your hands here.” I place my hands in the middle of Harper’s chest, just below where I gauge her nipples probably are.

Do not think of Harper’s nipples.

I don’t press down on Harper’s chest, but I shift, showing them how if they move their weight over their hands, it can help to increase the pressure.

“What about the mouth? When do we do that?” someone from the back calls.

“How can we do it at the same time as the pressing on the chest?”

“Lois, let’s practice. Come over to my place tonight.”

I try to block out the talking, but it’s impossible. Harper’s smile and laughter is the only thing that’s getting me through this.

“Over top of the other person’s mouth,” I deadpan.

“Show us,” Melvin says.

“I don’t need to show you guys. You know where the mouth goes.”

“But how does it fit over it? Is it like kissing?” Jean asks.

I roll my eyes and lean down over Harper. “You’re going to be on the side of them, so it’s not like kissing. You’ll plug their nose and make sure your mouth is covering theirs so no air escapes.”

Harper and I lock eyes. I feel her breath on my face. I’m so close, and her flowery scent drifts up to me. My heartrate picks up, and everything around us melts away for a moment.

Until all the senior citizens in the audience chant, “Kiss, kiss, kiss.”

I blink and look away from Harper, breaking the spell. Does she look disappointed? I think she does, but she’s the one who said we need to stay platonic.

“This is ridiculous.” Standing, I bend to help her up off the floor. “All right, everyone, I think that’s enough for tonight. If you have any last questions, you can come up and ask me.”

I pick the blanket up off the floor and fold it as Melvin makes his way up to us slowly.

“Oh boy,” Harper says under her breath. “What’s up, Melvin?”

He looks between the two of us. “If you guys are looking for a third for your throuple since his fiancée is gone, I wanted to put my name in the hat.”

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