Number Seven

011

Sophia was nearly vibrating with excitement as she finished getting ready. It was her second date with Mason, and she couldn't wait to see him again. After their first date, which had ended with their first kiss, everything felt easier between them. Comfortable. There was an undeniable connection, and the thought of spending more time together made her smile to herself as she looked in the mirror, giving herself a little pep talk.

"You've got this," she whispered, adjusting her dress. It was simple, a soft summer dress with delicate flowers that made her feel like herself—nothing too fancy, just something that made her feel confident.

When she arrived at the mini-golf course, Mason was already there, leaning casually against his car. As soon as he saw her, his face lit up with a wide, easy smile. She couldn't help but smile back, her heart fluttering a little in her chest.

"Hey," he greeted her warmly, walking over and pulling her into a quick hug. His arms were solid and comforting, and she couldn't help but relax into the embrace for just a moment longer than she meant to.

"You look amazing," he said softly, stepping back but still holding her eyes.

"Thanks. You're not looking too bad yourself," she teased, her smile widening. "Ready to lose?"

Mason raised an eyebrow with mock offense. "I think you'll find this round will be different."

They made their way to the first hole, and Mason immediately tried to impress her with his shot. Of course, he missed entirely, sending the ball bouncing off a rock and straight into the bushes.

Sophia burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "Smooth, Beckham," she teased.

"Just warming up," he called back, clearly trying to play it off.

They continued on, the lighthearted banter making the whole experience feel more like a friendly competition than an actual game. They laughed, teased each other, and kept things easy. Whenever Mason hit a bad shot, Sophia would jokingly throw her arms up in victory. Whenever she made a good shot, he'd dramatically bow, offering her a playful round of applause.

"I think I need to start practicing more," he muttered after she sunk another putt, giving her a pretend glare. "I'm about to lose my title."

Sophia's laughter was infectious. "You totally are," she teased, stepping up to the final hole and making a perfect shot to win the game. "And don't you forget it."

Mason held up his hands in defeat, grinning ear-to-ear. "Okay, okay. I admit it. You are the mini-golf champion. For now."

They walked back to his car, still laughing.

"So, what's next?" Mason asked, sliding into the driver's seat and starting the car.

"McDonald's. I'm starving, and I'm in the mood for fries," Sophia said with a grin.

"You just got better in my eyes," Mason replied, his smile widening. "You know, a perfect date in my book is always followed by McDonald's."

They rolled through the drive-thru, ordering their usuals, and then headed to a quiet parking spot nearby. The night air was cool, and the car's interior was cozy. As they parked, Mason took out the bags of food, offering her a McNugget first.

"Here, you can have the first one," he said, holding out the box with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Sophia took the nugget, biting into it with exaggerated delight. "Best nugget ever," she declared, making Mason laugh.

He leaned back in the seat, pulling out a large fry and dipping it in ketchup, his eyes on her as he spoke. "I'm glad you're enjoying your food. I could watch you eat McDonald's all night."

Sophia grinned. "I can't tell if that's sweet or just weird."

"It's sweet, I promise." He leaned closer, his hand brushing against hers as he reached for another fry. The brief touch made her heart skip a beat.

"Here," he said softly, offering the fry to her. Their fingers brushed as she took it, the small, intimate moment making her feel like they were in their own little world.

"Thanks," she said, her voice quieter now. She bit into the fry, savoring the salty goodness, and Mason just watched her with a fond smile.

For a moment, neither of them said anything, just eating and watching the show in a comfortable silence. Outer Banks had already started, but Mason kept glancing over at her, catching her eye and offering her another fry or McNugget every now and then, his movements slow and deliberate.

At one point, he held a fry out to her, but instead of letting her take it, he gently touched her chin, guiding her face toward his hand so she could take the fry from him directly. The simple touch was enough to make her breath hitch, her heart warming at the tenderness in his action.

"Mmm," she said playfully, as she bit into the fry. "That's better than the show."

Mason laughed softly, his fingers grazing over the back of her hand as she ate. "I'm just saying, I've got a lot of talent."

"You do, don't you?" she teased, her voice soft. She rested her head back against the seat, her hand still in his, the touch grounding her.

They were both lost in the show now, but Mason didn't let go of her hand. His thumb gently rubbed small circles over the back of her hand, making her feel more at ease than she ever had before. Occasionally, he'd feed her a bite of his fries or share a nugget with her, each small gesture sending little sparks of warmth through her chest.

Sophia couldn't help but smile at how easily they fell into this routine. She loved how natural everything felt with him, how they didn't need anything extravagant to have a good time.

After a while, Mason paused the show, turning to face her fully. "You know, I'm really glad we're doing this."

She looked at him, her heart softening at his sincerity. "Me too."

There was something about his gaze, something in the way his fingers still traced the lines of her hand, that made her feel like everything else—the world, the day—was falling into place. She leaned in just a little closer, her lips brushing his cheek as she smiled. "This is nice," she whispered, and Mason's hand moved to gently cup her face, his thumb caressing her jaw.

"Yeah," he agreed, his voice a little husky now. "I want to do this every day."

Sophia felt her chest tighten at the thought of him leaving soon for pre-season, but she didn't want to think about that now. Instead, she closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the warmth of the car, the sweet closeness between them.

"Me too," she said softly, reaching up to rest her hand over his, not wanting to let go.

He smiled, leaning in to kiss her lightly on the lips. It was soft, sweet, and lingering—just a brief, quiet moment that felt full of unspoken meaning.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, his forehead resting against hers for a moment.

"Definitely," Sophia whispered back.

As the night stretched on, they stayed in the car, eating McDonald's and watching Outer Banks. The world outside felt distant, but inside the car, everything was just right.