Number Seven

006

The days after the Grand Prix seemed to blur together, but Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. She had settled back into her daily life, unpacking from the trip and going through the motions, but beneath the surface, everything felt different. There was an underlying excitement and a flutter in her chest that she couldn't quite explain.

Life with her family was as it always was—comforting, familiar, and a little chaotic. Harper, her younger sister, was still buzzing about the trip, and even though she'd tried to keep it quiet, Sophia could tell that the whole family knew about her weekend in Spain. Her brother Romeo had taken great joy in teasing her about Mason Mount, despite her repeatedly assuring him that it was nothing more than a casual friendship—at least for now. It was hard to deny the chemistry between her and Mason, though. The messages, the little moments they'd shared, they all kept replaying in her mind.

It wasn't the attention or even the possibility of something more with Mason that had her mind spinning. It was the feeling of finally having someone care, someone who saw her for more than just a Beckham. After everything she had been through, it was nice to feel wanted. But at the same time, she wasn't in any rush to move things along. She was used to being in control of her life, and right now, everything with Mason was a welcome, yet unexpected, surprise.

The sun was starting to set as she made her way outside. The cool autumn air kissed her skin, and she felt herself relax for the first time since returning. Sitting down on one of the garden chairs, she let the peacefulness of the moment calm her nerves. She opened her Instagram, letting her mind wander as she scrolled through her feed. Posts from the Grand Prix weekend were everywhere, and her mind briefly wandered to Mason's recent post. She couldn't help but smile, but the thought didn't linger long.

Sophia's phone buzzed, breaking her from her thoughts. It was Mason.

Mason Mount:
"Hey! How's the jet lag treating you? Hope you're getting some time to relax."

Sophia felt a small flutter in her stomach as she quickly typed out a response.

Sophia Beckham:
"Getting there! It's been a lot to take in, but I'm good. How's everything on your end?"

She paused for a moment, debating whether or not she should send it. But, in the end, her finger pressed send before she could overthink it.

A few moments later, her phone buzzed again. This time, a new message appeared.

Mason Mount:
"Busy as always, you know how it is. But hey, maybe next time we can grab coffee or something. Would love to catch up more."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. Coffee? A simple offer, but somehow it meant more. It made her smile to herself, even though she was still trying to process everything. The connection between her and Mason was still new, and part of her couldn't believe this was really happening.

She quickly typed her response.

Sophia Beckham:
"That sounds great. Let me know when you're free."

As she hit send, she leaned back in the chair and let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. It wasn't much, but the simple exchange had her feeling lighter. It was a small step forward, but it felt like a huge leap in the right direction.

Just as she was letting the excitement settle, her phone rang. It was Brooklyn.

"Hey, big bro," she said with a smile, answering the call.

"Hey, Soph! How's everything? I haven't heard from you in a while. I know you've been busy, but I just wanted to check in on you," Brooklyn said. His voice was warm and filled with the care she had come to expect from her older brother.