I snort, recalling the sight of Simon wobbling at the knees and turning green. “You—”
He holds out a hand. “Don’t you say it. I heard enough blood jokes to last a lifetime.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
We laugh as we get back to work, falling into a comfortable rhythm, applying adhesive and positioning tiles. I master the simple snap while Simon works on the more intricate cuts. It’s nice to spend time with him and the memories and laughter make the job speed by.
“Remember how you used to tutor me in math?” Simon asks, as he passes me the tile he’s just cut to fit the corner.
I nod. “How could I forget? You were always more interested in goofing off than solving equations.”
“Yeah, I’m the first to admit I preferred football and girls to hitting the books.” Simon grins, his eyes creasing at the corners. “I guess you didn’t have that problem, huh?”
I chuckle. “Hey, I liked football.”
“Yeah, yeah. But seriously, I don’t think I would have gotten through my final year without your help, man. Your tutoring skills were top-notch. You had a real knack for making even the most complex problems seem manageable.”
My chest warms at the compliment. I loved every moment spent tutoring, so it wasn’t exactly a hardship. Still, it’s nice tohear my efforts were appreciated. “Well, you’re getting a chance to pay me back now.”
Simon grins. “I know, right? Total role reversal. Who’d have thought I’d be the one teaching you anything?”
I laugh, shaking my head as I pick up another tile. “Well, I guess it just goes to show that we never stop learning, huh?”
Simon nods and tilts his head. “Speaking of learning, I think it’s time for a little refresher on some of the basics.”
He gestures to the tile I’ve just placed, and I realize with a sinking feeling that it’s slightly crooked despite using spacers. “Damn.”
“And perhaps a little more practice,” Simon teases, his voice laced with good-natured humor.
I groan, rolling my eyes. “It’s not as easy as it looks.”
He pats me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Greg. You’ve got a great teacher. I’ll have you tiling like a pro in no time.”
We continue to work, Simon patiently offering guidance. I make a few more mistakes, but by the time one wall is finished, I feel a sense of pride.
The bathroom is slowly taking shape. We’ll tackle grouting tomorrow, but for now, we turn our focus to the floor.
“So, if we want this pattern to flow seamlessly, we need to make sure the angles on the cuts are just right,” Simon explains. “It’s all about precision.”
I nod, studying the intricate design we’ve laid out. “Who knew bathroom tiling could be so mathematical and rely on geometry?”
He laughs. “Luckily I had a good teacher.”
Just as I’m about to make a witty comeback, I hear the front door open and Cam call out. “Greg? I’m home. And I brought pizza!”
I shoot Simon a panicked look. “Quick, he can’t see the bathroom yet! It’s supposed to be a surprise!”
Simon’s eyes widen and he scrambles to his feet, hastily gathering tools and materials from the doorway. I hear Cam’s footsteps getting closer, and my heart races as I picture him seeing the half-finished project.
“Just a second, babe!” I call and bolt out the door.
Cam rounds the corner as I step into the hall.
“What are you two up to?” he asks, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as his gaze falls on Simon, who’s now standing at my shoulder.
I plaster on my most innocent smile. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Hmm.” Cam glances at the now-closed bathroom door and raises an eyebrow. “Anyway, pizza’s getting cold, and I’m starving. There’s enough for you too, Simon.”
