"Hales..." Alex stared out at the ocean, kicking at some shells in the sand. "Is Emily seeing anyone?"
"Nope."
"And she's not interested in anyone?"
"Nope." Haley looked sideways at him, a wicked grin on her lips. "But people are certainly interested in her."
If Alex had been trying to play it cool, he failed miserably. The discomfort on his face was obvious. If he hadn't looked so pathetic, Haley might have laughed. Her friend's little crush on her sister had gone on for years. And Haley, much to her joy, had always had a front row seat to his panicked musings.
"The new guy dropped off some cloth for her yesterday, but she didn't sound too impressed," Haley continued, fiddling with the edge of her beach towel. "I think she heard he'd given Leah some goat cheese on Monday. Thinks he's playing the field or something."
"Good." For someone who could barely manage two words in Emily's presence, he regathered his confidence far too quickly. "That's good."
"Good?" Haley scoffed. "Just because she said no to him doesn't mean she'll say no to the next boy who asks."
"You said she wasn't interested in anyone!"
"It won't stay that way forever though. Someone will catch her eye eventually." Then, taking sympathy at the sight of Alex's crestfallen face, she softened. "I'm not saying it won't be you, Al. I just think you might want to be—I don't know—a little more forward. Take some initiative. Ask her out."
"Initiative," Alex echoed. "I can do that."
"Course you can."
"Initiative."
Haley peered up at him, smiling. Somehow, she had a feeling that she would be giving him the very same advice some time soon. Still, she hoped she wouldn't be. A little bit of change in Pelican Town, she thought, might not be so bad.
