Number Seven

002

The sun shone brightly over the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, illuminating the Spanish Grand Prix's qualifying rounds. The roar of the cars filled the air, the excitement palpable as the fastest drivers pushed their machines to the limit. Despite the electrifying atmosphere, Sophia Beckham found herself distracted, her mind constantly drifting back to one person—Mason Mount.

Her eyes wandered over the crowd, but it wasn't just the action on the track she was interested in. She kept stealing glances at Mason, who was standing off to the side with Lando Norris and Ben Chilwell. There was something about him—the way he carried himself, that quiet confidence that made him stand out among the crowd.

Next to her, Romeo was engaged in conversation with Ben, but he kept sneaking glances at his twin sister. He noticed how her gaze kept returning to Mason. It wasn't just a passing interest. Something about the way she looked at him made Romeo's protective instincts flare.

"You good?" Romeo asked casually, not bothering to look away from the track, but Sophia could tell by the way his shoulders tensed that he was paying attention to her every move.

"Yeah," she replied quickly, trying to sound indifferent. "Just... watching the race."

But Romeo knew better. His eyes narrowed slightly as he followed her gaze to Mason, who was chatting with his other friends. The guy seemed nice enough, but Romeo wasn't sure if she was ready to open up to someone again—especially after everything she'd been through.

"You've been staring at Mount for the last ten minutes," Romeo said, his voice light but with a slight edge to it.

Sophia flushed, looking away quickly. "I wasn't staring. I was... just lost in thought."

Romeo leaned in, his eyes locking onto hers with a seriousness that sent a shiver down her spine. "Come on, Soph. You're not fooling me. What's going on? I know you've been keeping to yourself after... everything. But why is this different?"

Sophia hesitated, staring at her hands in her lap. The words were hard to say, but she knew Romeo was the one person who would understand. "I don't know," she said quietly, her voice barely rising above the sound of the racing cars. "Mason's different. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about him."

Romeo's protective nature immediately flared. He was well aware of the scars that Sophia carried from her past relationship. She had told him everything—how the guy she'd been with had torn her down, insulted her, and made her feel like she wasn't good enough. Romeo had been furious when he found out, and he'd made it clear that no one would ever treat his sister like that again.

"I know," Romeo said, his voice firm but softening with understanding. "But you've been hurt before, Soph. I saw it. I was there. And I'm not gonna let anyone do that to you again." His protective side was undeniable as he glanced at Mason again, sizing him up.

Sophia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know you're just looking out for me, but I don't know if I'm ready for this. For him. After everything that happened before..."

"I get it," Romeo said, his tone serious. "But I'm not just being protective because I'm your brother. I'm protective because I love you. And I'll do anything to make sure no one makes you feel the way that guy did."

Sophia looked at him, the weight of his words settling deep in her chest. She had never wanted to burden her family with her pain, but knowing they were there for her made her feel a little less alone. "I just... I don't know how to move on," she admitted. "I thought I could handle it, but every time I think about opening up again, I freeze."

Romeo gave her a reassuring smile, his hand gently squeezing hers. "I'm not asking you to jump into anything. You don't have to. But don't close yourself off forever. You deserve to be happy, Soph. But take your time. There's no rush."