Page 148 of Competitive Advantage

Daylen smirks as he dresses Rose while I’m seated in a wheelchair, per hospital regulations. All I can see of her outfit is that it’s a pink onesie. “What did you do?” I ask accusatorily.

His smile widens. “Are you ready for the big reveal?” He looks like a kid in a candy store.

I shake my head. “I had the cutest Burberry outfit picked out. Our son would have been stylin’.”

“Keep it. Maybe we’ll have a son next year.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “Umm, no.”

“Okay, the princess is ready,” he proudly announces before holding her up for me to see.

She’s in a pink onesie that reads:Product of a Beau Fudd Boner Shake.

I spit in laughter. “Oh my god. Did you seriously put our three-day-old daughter in a shirt with the wordboneron it? She’s going to have this photo for the rest of her life.”

He twists his lips. “Hmm, I never thought of it that way. I think you’ll be the baby stylist moving forward.”

Glad he said that, because, unbeknownst to him, her closet is already full of designer girlie clothes. I’ve been having a blast shopping for this kid since I found out the sex.

He continues, “I’m sure you’ll be introducing her to fashion in no time. Her stroller is going to get some good mileage at the mall.” He looks down at her and uses his baby voice. “Right, baby girl? You and Mommy will go on shopping sprees all the time. Mommy is not only a professional athlete, but she’s a professional shopper. You’re a lucky little girl.”

I nod as I realize that when I shop for her now, she’ll be with me. Maybe it’s something special she and I can do together. Hope blooms in my chest as I begin to imagine it.

Hank knocks on the door and walks in. “The car is here.” He looks at Rose and fixes her little hat. “Are you ready to go home, baby doll? Is…yo mamaready too?”

Daylen’s head snaps toward Hank. I stare at them both and warn, “I love this game, but I’m thinking it's a bit much for Rose’s little ears right now."

They grin at each other before Daylen looks down at Rose. "Yo mama is so bold, she's featured on the toolbar of Microsoft Word.”

I smile, and Hank nods before saying, “Yo mama’s so smart, Google usesher, not the other way around.”

I giggle. These guys are too much. This is clearly a preplanned routine, and I love it.

Daylen looks at me and gives me the sweetest, most loving smile that has ever existed before looking back down at Rose. “Yo mama is so radiant, when she looks in the mirror,itstarts glowing.”

Cheesy jokes used to be on my red flag list, a list I’ve since deleted from my phone. I can’t help but stare at my little family. All I see now are big green flags.

THE END