CHAPTER 61

CARMEN

“Carmen!” Jasper caught me downstairs before I could find a cab and leave for the house. “Carmen, why are you doing this?”

“I don’t think you understand this; I don’t like it when you get controlling and manipulative—”

“Manipulative?!” He raised his brows in shock at my words. “You’re calling me manipulative? I wanted to apologize and ask you to come back with me since everybody is here for you, and you choose to call me manipulative? When have I ever made you feel that way?”

“We shouldn’t be fighting about this out in public,” I said, looking around in worry that we could be found out by strangers and passersby.

“Let’s go back upstairs. I’m not going to force you if you don’t want it, of course, but it would really mean the whole world if we celebrated your birthday without a fight. We can do all of this tomorrow. We can talk about India, and we can talk about trusting each other more. You don’t want me sitting there all alone, do you? Besides, your food is there…”

I sighed in