Zoe's brow lifted at the slip, and she might have smiled, only a little though. She glanced at him, but continued walking, making sure he was at her side for now.
"If the boy is a boy, then he will fear her laughter. If the boy is a man, then he will accept that there is a chance of it and ask anyway. If the girl decides she no longer wants to be around the boy because he likes her, then she's not worth the boy's time." Zoe shrugged.
"Losing is never an excuse. It's just not good enough. Either you step up, before than some frightened mouse, or you don't live." She shrugged. She didn't think she was a hypocrite, even if she did take her time in asking Jesse for his feelings. A first crush/love was not the same as losing a husband not once but twice. "That's not the only special place. You can make another special place."