The Things That I Know || George Michael

fourteen - let me go, now

"Mack?" Levi hisses, still taken aback by the man's actions. "What the fuck was that?"

Mack's expression melts into one of confidence. "Don't act like you didn't see it coming. I mean, look at you." He uses his hand to gesture up and down Levi's slender body, as if this is an answer in and of itself. "You thought a man like me could resist a man like you?"

"I'm married, Mack," Levi reminds him, stepping back from him. "And I have no intentions of cheating. I'm not attracted to you. Not even slightly."

"Oh, come on." Mack moves closer to Levi, pressing his hands to Levi's waist. "No guy has ever said no to me. And Lord knows there's been plenty of them."

"That just suggests a high turnover, doesn't it?" Levi forces the fingers away from his torso, feeling uneasy from the physical contact. "On that note, I'm taking my daughter's cat and I'm leaving."

"Ah, don't do that," Mack pleads, with a subtle slyness in his tone. "Because, who knows what kind of trouble it could land you in?"

"What do you mean by that?" Levi challenges.

"How about we just say ... I know where you've been the last day or so," Mack explains. "Once I find someone I like, it's hard to lose track of them."

"You've been ... stalking us?" Levi questions; a pang of regret floods his chest, at the realisation that George's instinctual apprehension was entirely valid. "What kind of fucked-up bastard are you? You've known me less than twenty-four hours, and you're acting as though you've loved me since time began."

"What can I say? I liked what I saw." Mack laughs softly, shrugging as if his actions have not been incriminating in the slightest. "I didn't like the idea of losing that."

"I see." An idea suddenly forms in Levi's head, so he takes his phone from his pocket to text George. As he does this, he continues talking to create a diversion. "So, what exactly about me do you like so much?"

"Well, first of all, you're easy on the eyes." Mack paces around the room, foolishly feeling no threat from the sight of Levi using his phone. "And then, you seem like a good guy, and—"

Ask the receptionist to come to room 314 with the master keycard. Tell her you've lost yours. Quick. Need help xx

He locks his phone, placing it back into his pocket before continuing to listen to Mack's obsessive ranting. Levi stands a safe distance from the stranger, as not to come into harm's way, as the unsettling feeling of impending doom falls over him.

"—And you're a great dad to those little kids you have. And you have this weird thing your eyes do when you smile—"

"Are you done?" Levi dares to ask, once he's finally heard enough of Mack's voice.

"Why ask me a question, if you're only going to interrupt the answer?" Mack snaps back. "I guess I should take politeness off the list, should I?"

"Do whatever you'd like to," Levi retorts. "But just so that you know, I'm not interested in you — like I've already said. So unfortunately, I'm going to have to leave you to it, now."

"I don't think doing that is a good idea," Mack asserts, inserting his hand into his jacket pocket. "Because another thing I should tell you, is that every guy I've ever fallen for ... well, I suppose you could say, "If I can't have you, nobody can"."

"What's that meant to mean?" A sickening sensation builds up within Levi's stomach, as he starts to piece together what Mack is all about.

"I like to think it's self-explanatory, really. A guy as clever as you should be able to figure it out." Mack stands opposite him, cupping Levi's cheek in his hand in a nauseating display of what he deems as adoration. "The family life has never really appealed to me ... I tried kids with my ex-wife, like I told you before. But she had it in for me. She poisoned them against me."