WRITTEN IN THE SCARS

Come closer

Summary:
Alex convinces Miles to reach him in Sheffield before his birthday party and Miles looks at ease playing with the Monkeys and sleeping in Alex's bed.

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Sheffield, January 2026,

"I can't wait for Miles to arrive; you can finally meet him tomorrow morning," I said downing my beer.

"That's really great, Alex. It seems ages we don't see him and well, we are definitely the best people to meet after staying on his own for so long," Jamie said. After coming back from Liverpool, I had gone out with him and told him about the beautiful days spent together with our families but I had also told him about my worries regarding Miles not looking ready to step too much outside of his comfort zone. Jamie  had suggested to rent the studio for some days and meet him there instead of doing it the night of the party and I found the idea great. Miles would have felt more at ease to meet just the four of us to begin with and, luckily, it's been easier than I thought to convince Miles given the fact that he had always refused to stay at my parents' for a few days.

"I am sure he's gonna enjoy a lot being back in a studio with us!" Nick said, thrilled at the thought of seeing Miles and playing with him.

"Yes, I am pretty sure he is gonna enjoy it a lot despite he is still not talking about going back to his music and... well, I really hope this is gonna help, who knows!"

"So, for your savage birthday party.... everything is settled with Mike. The day after tomorrow it's closing day at the pub so nobody has reasons to show up and the privacy is guaranteed. Since it's gonna be only us with our kids, wives, girlfriends and parents, Mike is gonna do everything by himself -maybe with a little help from us- because he doesn't want anyone from the staff around to avoid that someone can accidentally let out something. I have already prepared the music and we can bring our instruments and play too if we want." Matt had organised everything by himself  and I was really grateful that he had agreed to do exactly what I asked, nothing more than food, music and a special cake. I was turning forty years old but it was just a number and the only thing I wanted was spending the night surrounded only by people I loved and that loved me back besides giving Miles a chance to meet the same lovely people and interact again with them, knowing that they cared about him the way they cared about me.

"It's gonna be a great night; our kids will have fun playing together and we will have fun talking and laughing, especially after we get started making toasts," Nick said amused. "Do we have karaoke?"

Matt nodded and then, laughed. "Drunken karaoke is gonna be the only savage things of the party so it cannot be missing" he explained and he shot me a worried look before putting a hand on my shoulder. "Or do you think karaoke is too savage?"

"No, it's okay, thank you," I looked at him with a simper and Matt breathed a sigh of relief, as if he was really worried that he had gone too far with the savage part. He was taking the piss out of me and well, he was entilted to do it. I knew exactly what was his idea of savage party for my fortieth birthday -we had had several talks about that in the past years- but too many things had changed and he knew it too so, at the end, he had been really kind to organise everything following my latest instructions.

"Anyway, you should think carefully about whether to do drunken karaoke or not because.... well, you and Miles are gonna share the bed at your parents' place and it may be embarrassing for Penny and David if you end up drinking too much and perform also when you go back home," he explained with a serious tone and face while Nick and Jamie were trying hard to hold back laughs.