IIN that I often don't get clues from girls until it's too late?

Of course she can! Certainly makes things much easier.

But here's why I bring this up, as it relates to the original post.

If you found out that she was giving you hints too late and you don't really like her, then it shouldn't matter much, right?

If she's giving you hints and you DO like her, then it shouldn't even matter if you're getting hints or not, or you notice them, or whatever. You should be just going for it anyway.