“Uh-huh. I don’t believe a word of it.” Kaia started toward Annie and Fawn.
Mano followed her. Annie’s straight black hair was pulled back from her face with clips, and she had a touch of color on her lips, just like on their date. Every time he saw her, she drew him more. She seemed to glow with vitality in the red top she wore.
“Hi.” She smiled up at him.
How did she do that? He felt as powerful as King Kamehameha when he was with her. She barely reached his shoulder and looked as fragile as a ginger lei. “Where’s your dad?” That was a stupid question. She made him scatterbrained.
She blinked and her smile faded. “He’s coming with Gina.”
He tried to recover his wits. “Love is still in the air, huh?”
“Looks like it.” She turned to Kaia. “How’s Jillian doing?”
Kaia nodded toward the casket. “Not good. Heidi is taking it really hard too. Jillian is still torn up over not hearing his reasons for what he did. I don’t think she’s slept at all.”
“Does Sam have any idea who killed him?” Annie’s lips trembled.
“Tomi is his main suspect.” Mano shifted, wondering why he was feeling so on edge. Was it Annie’s presence? His agitation was increasing. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He had breakfast, didn’t he? He couldn’t remember if his watch alarm had gone off to remind him. He couldn’t seem to move his tongue right, and his thoughts were slow. He probably ought to eat something. He put his hand in his pocket and came up empty. Had he left his candy in the car? He couldn’t wrap his mind around the questions.
He started toward the door and stumbled. His vision was fuzzy, and he felt he was walking in lava that was hardening around his feet. “Are you okay?” he heard someone ask as if from a great distance. The words he tried to form wouldn’t congeal in his mouth. He stumbled again, then fell to his knees.
Annie was instantly at his side. “What’s wrong?”
She tried to help him stand, but his head was spinning. “I need some candy or orange juice,” he whispered.
She grabbed her purse, opened it, and dumped the contents on the floor. Mano was vaguely aware of people gathering around them. If he didn’t feel so sick, he’d be mortified, but all he wanted now was something sweet.
Annie shoved a piece of hard candy in his mouth. “It’s old, but it’s sweet.”
Sour apple flavor flooded his mouth, and he sucked on the sugary treat. He prayed for the reaction to pass so he could get to his feet and gather his dignity again. Annie was on one side of him, and his sister was on the other.
Jesse, Kaia’s fiancé, moved her out of the way and grabbed his arm. “Can you stand, buddy?”
“Give me another minute,” he mumbled. His vision sharpened, and his thoughts began to present themselves in logical order again. He wondered if he’d said anything stupid. He glanced at Annie but saw only concern, not disgust or pity. Pity was something he couldn’t stand. He put his head between his knees and began to feel better. Raising his head, he grabbed Jesse’s hand.
Jesse hoisted Mano to his feet. “Steady.”
“I’m good now.”
“Maybe we should call a doctor.” His sister sounded fretful.
He was going to have to tell them. His gaze sought Annie’s, and he took strength in the concern he saw there. He looked away. Better not to see the pity and disgust come. “I’m fine. It was just a—a low blood-sugar reaction.”
“What do you mean? You have hypoglycemia or something?” Kaia demanded.
“More than that. I have diabetes.” He heard Annie’s tiny gasp but couldn’t bring himself to look at her.
“Diabetes?” Kaia grabbed his arm. “How long have you known? And why didn’t you tell me? Does Bane know, or the rest of the family?”
Mano shook his head. “I haven’t told anyone. That’s why I couldn’t remember what happened when I lost Tomi in the water. I had a severe diabetic reaction. Blacked out. I had several more before I figured out what was wrong. I just found out for sure a month ago. I’m still figuring out how to manage it.”
“Don’t badger him,” Jesse said. His shrewd gaze lingered on Mano’s face. “Hard to admit a weakness, huh?”
“You got it.” Mano was feeling stronger by the minute.
“Oh, you men make me so mad!” Splotches of color stained Kaia’s face. She stared at Jesse with fire in her eyes. “It’s not unmanly to admit a weakness. Mano is as strong as a whale. So what if he has diabetes? It doesn’t make him a weakling.”
“It’s hard to deal with finding out your body is betraying you,” Mano said. “I guess I didn’t want to admit even to myself that there was something I couldn’t lick.” He finally dared to look at Annie again. Still no pity. If he wasn’t still so befuddled, he might actually believe there was some love in her expression as well. He shook his head slightly to clear it.
“Why didn’t you tell me that’s what happened when you were trying to save Tomi?”