Chapter Thirty Two

To say that Lilith was apprehensive about having the casello's brothers at her father’s house for their annual Thanksgiving celebration would’ve been something of an understatement.

She had been an absolute mess these past few weeks, barely paying attention at work while she alternated a wheel of worries in her thoughts — what to wear, what to cook, how to cope if things got awkward, and what her dad might say if and when the inevitable topic came up of why, exactly, she had invited Lorenzo Casello into their home.

Her dad was somewhat rough around the edges, and didn’t like new people. He was happiest when he was alone, occupying his time with his hobbies and his cigars. There were some times when she felt like he preferred to keep her at an arm’s distance, but Lilith knew how hard it had been for him to raise her without her mother.

Lilith didn’t blame him. It just made her excessively wary about who she brought home. Certainly never any boyfriends — particularly since there never