Number Seven

015

Sophia sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. She had just received another text from Mason, and the familiar mixture of emotions began to swirl inside her chest. She wanted to respond, to reach out, but the thought of letting him back in after everything she'd been through felt overwhelming. The hurt was still there, deep down, despite his apologies.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, unsure whether to reply or leave him on read. But before she could make a decision, a knock at her door broke her out of her thoughts.

"Soph, you up?" David Beckham's voice came through the door, warm and familiar.

Sophia quickly put her phone down, not wanting to seem too preoccupied. "Yeah, I'm here."

The door opened, and her dad stepped inside. His presence was always comforting, but today, she noticed a slight look of concern on his face. "You okay? I haven't seen you this quiet in a while."

Sophia hesitated, unsure of how to explain what she was feeling. "I'm fine, Dad. Just... stuff on my mind."

David walked over to the bed and sat down beside her, a knowing look in his eyes. He had always been the one person she could turn to, even when things felt complicated.

"What's going on? You know you can talk to me."

She bit her lip, glancing down at her phone. "It's Mason. I just... I don't know how to feel. I'm not sure if I should even be talking to him right now. I don't want to keep getting hurt."

David nodded, giving her the space to open up. He knew Mason had caused her pain, and he had seen how much she had been struggling lately. But he also knew how much she cared for him, even if she didn't want to admit it to herself.

"You don't have to have all the answers right now," David said softly. "You don't owe anyone anything, especially when you're still figuring out what you want. It's okay to take your time."

Sophia smiled weakly, appreciating her dad's words. "I just feel so confused. Like, part of me wants to give him another chance, but another part of me is terrified. I don't want to go back to square one with him and end up hurt again."

David rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "It's normal to feel that way, Soph. Relationships are hard work, and you can't rush those kinds of things. But whatever you decide, I want you to know that you're not alone in this."

She nodded, feeling comforted by his support. He always knew how to put things into perspective.

"I don't know what to do," she said quietly. "I guess I'm just... waiting for something to change."

David looked at her for a moment before a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Well, I think it's time for a little distraction. You've been cooped up in here long enough. How about we spend the day together? I have a few interviews for the Netflix documentary coming up, and it might be good to get out of the house for a while. Plus, I could use some company."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You want me to come watch you do interviews?"

"Why not?" David grinned. "It'll be a bit of fun. I promise I won't bore you with all the behind-the-scenes stuff. You can come, watch me do my thing, and I'll even treat you to lunch after. Sound good?"

She hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Yeah, okay. I think I could use a break from all the thinking."

David stood up and extended his hand to her, a playful glint in his eyes. "Great! I'll take that as a yes. Get dressed, and let's get going. You're going to enjoy this."

Sophia chuckled, grabbing her phone before following him downstairs. As they made their way to the car, her dad chatted about some of the latest charity work he'd been involved in, keeping the conversation light and easy. He had a way of making her forget the heavy things for a while, and it was exactly what she needed.

A short drive later, they arrived at the location for David's interview—an elegant studio filled with large windows and sleek, modern furniture. It was for a Netflix documentary about his life and career, and today was one of the final press days. David was the center of attention, as always, but he made a point to include Sophia in the process.

As they entered the studio, the crew was already setting up, adjusting lights, and testing microphones. David was greeted by a few familiar faces—producers, directors, and some old friends from the football world. But Sophia couldn't help but notice how the tension in the air made her feel like an outsider. Everyone had a job to do, and she was just... there.

David, however, immediately made sure she felt included. As he chatted with the crew, he kept looking over at her with reassuring glances. When the cameras were finally rolling, he took a seat on the sofa, facing the interviewer, and motioned for Sophia to sit in the chair next to him.

"Come on, Soph, you're part of this too," he said with a smile.

Sophia blinked in surprise but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. "Dad, you're crazy."

David chuckled, but there was a warmth in his voice that made her feel comfortable. "Hey, it's not every day you get to watch your old man be a star. You might as well take advantage of it."

The interview began, and while the crew focused on the questions about his career and his time in football, Sophia couldn't help but be fascinated by the way her dad handled the media. He was effortlessly charming, answering each question with ease, while still giving credit to his family, always quick to mention her mum, Harper, and even Romeo.

Sophia watched him, feeling a mix of admiration and love. It wasn't just the fame or the career that made him special—it was the way he carried himself, how he always made sure his family came first.

After the interview wrapped up, they headed to a nearby café, just the two of them, for a quiet lunch away from the chaos. David ordered for them both, knowing exactly what Sophia liked to eat. It was one of those small, comfortable moments that made her feel grounded, even with everything else happening in her life.

"So," David said casually between bites, "what's going on with you and Mason?"

Sophia hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air. "I don't know, Dad. It's complicated."

"I get that." David nodded. "But you don't have to make any decisions today. Just take it one day at a time. You've got your whole life ahead of you, and whatever you decide, I'm proud of you. I just want you to be happy."

Sophia felt the weight in her chest lighten a little. Her dad always knew the right things to say.

"Thanks, Dad," she said softly, reaching for his hand across the table. "I needed this. More than you know."

David smiled warmly, squeezing her hand in return. "Anytime, Soph. You're my girl. I'm always here."