Penelope's POV
Perhaps Austin had realized his own abruptness in that moment. When he grabbed the phone from my hands, he didn't immediately answer it. Instead, he froze in place, his fingers hovering over the screen as if caught in some internal struggle. I could see the conflict playing out across his handsome features - his jaw tensing, his lips parting slightly as if to speak, then pressing together again. The blue of his eyes darkened with some unreadable emotion that made my breath catch in my throat.
The insistent ringing continued, the screen flashing brightly against the dim lighting of the restaurant. When it went silent for just a moment before lighting up again with another call, I finally broke the tense silence between us. "You should probably answer that," I said softly, keeping my tone carefully neutral. "It seems important."
