Kevin had made a decision. If everyone else got to be eccentric, then so did he. Wrapped in the 1200-thread-count hotel sheet like it was designer formalwear, he tied it off with a precision that could only be described as divine inspiration or accidental genius. The complimentary geta clacked just right under his feet as he strode down the hallway, not slowing for anything—not the startled maid, not the two older guests whispering “gaijin,” not even the stern-faced man in a suit who may or may not have been with the hotel board. Kevin gave them all the same serene, inscrutable nod
Kevin was the second person to arrive at the staff meeting.
Andrea didn’t even look up from her tablet as he strolled into the private conference suite barefoot, wearing nothing but a perfectly folded luxury hotel sheet toga, his phone tucked into the sash, and a disposable cup of black coffee in hand. His hair was slightly damp. His posture? Relaxed, maybe too relaxed. But his face was all business—or at least Matt’s version of business: calm, unreadable, and just this side of smug.
He set down two donuts on a paper napkin, sat at the far end of the long table, and took his first sip. A slow breath. Eyes closed. Zen as fuck.
Andrea finally glanced up. “You do realize this is a staff meeting, right?”
Kevin raised the hotel-branded mug with deliberate ease, sheet-toga hitched perfectly above his knees, one foot in split-toe geta, the other tapping an invisible beat.
“I was called. Same as everyone else,” he said calmly. “I was awakened at 7:53. You said 8:00 sharp.”
He sipped his coffee, unbothered. “I’m a rich kid from Boston. I was raised with Yankee punctuality… not on Filipino time.”
Andrea arched a brow but said nothing. Kevin casually slid the better of the two donuts farther from himself, setting it on a napkin beside the yogurt and fruit bowl he’d also taken.
“For Sael,” he added. “Anyone who throws a robe and a striptease in the same ten seconds deserves breakfast.”
He didn’t smile. He just drank the coffee. Zen as fuck.
Andrea tapped something into her notes. “That a real sheet?”
“Hotel-provided,” Kevin replied. “Marmaduke Group rate. I assume five-star thread count.”
She gave a snort of amusement. “You practicing a bit of Matt Mojo?”
He finally opened his eyes and met hers across the table. “If the robe fits.”
Andrea chuckled, mostly to herself. “Alright, then. No further objections. Just don’t spill coffee on the upholstery. Those chairs cost more than your future tuition.”
Kevin raised his cup slightly in salute. “Zen requires discipline.”
The screens on the wall flickered to life behind Andrea, and Kevin suddenly wished the mug held more coffee as he sat looking at Matt and T’mari with less-than-amused morning faces. “Did the others get lost?” Matt asked.
“He informed me that he is programmed for Yankee punctuality, not Filipino time,” Andrea said with a shrug, not even bothering to look up from her tablet, but giggling every minute or so, which was a little unnerving to Kevin, as it should be.
“Did you now,” Matt said with hidden amusement. “Pretty bold statement from a guy in a bedsheet.”
“He was here 2 minutes early, even,” Andrea said, smirking way too hard at her screen.
“Anything to say for yourself?”
“Toga!”
“Oh he’s precious, Matt. We’re keeping him,” T’mari howled, having watched Animal House three times now, the first time by accident when she meant to watch Animal Farm.
“Ah here is the rest of the chaos machine,” Matt said, affably.
“Stop right there,” he called.
“MJ, Y’kem, come closer… closer… closer. Turn completely around. Andrea, are those hickies on their necks?”
“It does appear that way.” “MJ, what happened to ‘Ooh, he’s a boy?’” T’mari asked sweetly.
“I didn’t get it from him?”
“Hey, don’t look at me,” Kevin said with all the eye-roll energy he could channel from his sisters.
“I slept with Sael and got my good morning kiss from Chem. Too prove my undying affection I got them the best donuts,” he said sliding the small plates their direction and took a sip from his coffee refusing to lean back far enough to appear casual.
“Told you, he’s zen as fuck,” Matt said, taking the dollar T’mari handed over.
“Moving on,” Matt said. “I am aware of who slept where and mostly with whom. You do remember we put sub-dermal trackers on you. I also want to say. Y’kem, you and I are going to have a beer later during my teen tour through Japan I only ever managed three at once, but damn dude, five…”
“Being green makes me exotic”
“Sael, what you said about that last night was important and has set the internet on fire,” Matt said, thoroughly pleased with her. “This was an important cause for my sister. When she entered flight school as a military pilot she was the only Asian woman among a bunch of whites and always felt like she was being made out to be exotic. We’ll talk later, but good job.”
“MJ, I know you released the first set of tracks, but did you really have to release that version, Friends in low places? Everyone knows I have great abs but too few people realize I look great in tight jeans too.”
“What do you mean by first set?” She asked, pulling out her phone.
“Chem, D’stan, your cat cafe piece is doing even better than some of Matt’s shirtless singing videos. Did you really kiss Kevin?” T’mari asked.
“Mall asked me to,” She said, pulling the donut closer. “He uses too much tongue and has morning breath.”
The table and both screens went wild around Andrea.
