"Molly." She jumps at the sound breaking the silence that had been engulfing her for what she assumes is at least two hours. Looks up to see Carey a plain white shirt and pair of sweat pants. His hair slightly ruffled from a pillow.
"What are you doing here? Come back to sleep." She puts on her best mom voice.
"I should be asking the same. It's almost two in the morning." The estimation had been right.
"I can't sleep. I didn't feel like watching TV and waking you up. You know these damn hotel walls are centimeters thick. But I suppose that didn't matter?"
"Actually it was absence of any noise leaking through the wall that awoke me. I know you Molly. You only fall asleep to the TV."
"If I do at all." She mutters. Carey pivots and sits down next to her on the couch.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"What's to talk about? I can't sleep." Molly gives a forced soft laugh.
"But there has to be a reason Molly. Something has to be bothering you. This…this not sleeping isn't healthy. I'm concerned." Carey puts a hand on her knee giving a slight squeeze.
"Thank you. But caring and trying to help me is like trying to count the rain drops in a storm."
"I like a challenge. More than that I like you Molly." He now gives his own awkward laugh. She turns to look at him, to really look at him and study his features and try to read him on the deepest levels.
"Oh Carey. No." He was an easy read.
"Yeah well I do. I think you are the most talented, head strong, passionate people I ever met. More than that you give everything of yourself to everyone else without thinking. It breaks my heart to see you hurting. To have you close people off. You don't deserve that."
"I appreciate that bu…"
"I don't care." He interrupts.
"Excuse me?"
"I don't care about the age difference. Or what people might say. Screw them. They spend equal time with you and no one of them are here. No one discusses the decreasing amount of food you eat. They don't notice the sadness painted in your eyes. Plus I know a part of you wants this."
"And what makes you say that?" She says with a hint of sarcasm.
"Because you haven't let go of my hand." Her eyes look down. She hadn't recalled taking a hold of his hand but there it was atop of her knee.
"It's late. I'm not thinking clearly." She tries to make herself release the hold and finds herself unable, unwilling.
"Molly I do want the best for you. I want you to be happy. I'll do anything I can to reach that goal. So what do you want?"
"I don't know Carey. I don't know. Can we just stay here?" He nods and leans back against the cushion and puts his feet on the coffee table.
"Works for me."