Number Seven

003

The excitement of qualifying had come and gone, but the energy in the air at the Spanish Grand Prix was far from fading. The final lap had everyone on the edge of their seats, but now, as the drivers cooled down and the crowd started to thin out, Sophia felt a sense of calm settle over her. The adrenaline of the day had worn off, but the whirlwind of emotions swirling in her head was only just beginning.

Sophia, Romeo, and their small entourage of friends walked out of the paddock, the hum of conversations and the sounds of tires rolling on the track fading behind them.

"Dinner tonight?" Lando Norris called out, catching up to them. He was grinning, a familiar twinkle in his eyes that made Sophia chuckle.

"You're really asking if we want to hang out with you after all that?" Romeo teased, throwing an arm around Lando's shoulders. "What do you think, Soph?"

Sophia smiled, feeling lighter already. After all, Lando was one of the few people who made things feel easy, fun. The chaos of the day, the uncertainty about her feelings toward Mason, the quiet weight of her past—it all seemed to fade when she was with her brother and friends like Lando.

"Definitely," Sophia said, glancing at Romeo with a small shrug. "Why not?"

Lando grinned and nudged her. "Perfect. I know a spot nearby. You'll love it."

They headed to the restaurant, a cozy place tucked away in the heart of Barcelona, away from the typical tourist crowds. As they settled into their seats, a sense of normalcy washed over Sophia. The conversations flowed effortlessly, and she couldn't help but enjoy the playful banter between Romeo and Lando. It was refreshing, the kind of distraction she needed from her own complicated thoughts.

The food came quickly, and the group dug in, with Lando cracking jokes about his teammates and the race, while Romeo threw in sarcastic comments here and there. Sophia found herself laughing more than she had in a long time, the tension from earlier in the day starting to dissipate.

But even in the midst of all the laughter, her mind kept drifting back to Mason. The way their conversation had flowed so naturally. The way he looked at her—not with the usual curiosity of someone seeing a Beckham for the first time—but with something more genuine. It made her heart race just thinking about it.

"So, what's up with you and Mount?" Lando asked casually, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Sophia almost choked on her water. "What?" she sputtered.

"You've been staring at him all day, and I've seen you two talking more than anyone else," Lando continued, his smile widening. "I'm not blind, Soph."

Romeo shot her a sideways glance. "Yeah, you've been pretty quiet since qualifying. What's going on?"

Sophia's cheeks flushed, and she tried to change the subject. "It's nothing. We were just talking. That's all."

Lando and Romeo shared a knowing look, both smirking. "Uh-huh," Lando teased. "We'll see about that."

Sophia rolled her eyes, but the teasing didn't bother her. They were her brothers—they cared, even if they liked to joke about everything. Deep down, she appreciated their concern.

As dinner wound down, Romeo and Sophia both pulled out their phones. It was a ritual to FaceTime the family whenever they were away—Mom, Dad, Cruz, Harper, and of course, Brooklyn and Nicola.

"Hey, guys," Sophia said, smiling as the screen lit up with her mom's face, followed by the familiar voices of her siblings.

"Hey, love!" Victoria's voice was warm, but there was a hint of concern when she saw the look on Sophia's face. "How's everything going in Spain? You okay?"