Chapter 1: The Edge of Their World

My best friend and my boyfriend both have Asperger's.

And I'm the one who's always standing at the edge of their world.

At seven, they were discussing high school textbooks. I was the one organizing their backpacks.

At seventeen, they got early admission to MIT.

At twenty-five, they finished their PhDs and became the golden duo at a top research institute. I was the receptionist.

We shared an apartment. I handled everything—meals, laundry, cleaning—and never once broke into their conversations.

Even my wedding turned into their lab discussion.

"Callan, the ceremony's starting."

I tugged at Callan's arm, frantic.

"What?"

"The wedding—"

"Not you."

Callan didn't even look at me. His eyes stayed fixed on Elara.

"What was that parameter you mentioned?"

Elara murmured, soft and coaxing.

"Don't be difficult. We're talking about the experiment. Just handle things for now."

"It's just a wedding. We can always do it over another day."

They dove back into their data, words I couldn't follow.

At the height of their excitement, they left me standing there with a room full of guests.

They rushed off toward the lab together.

On their way out, they knocked over the champagne tower.

I stood there alone.

But this time, I didn't clean up the mess like I always did.

Do it over? I don't need that anymore.

I'm done being the genius's bride.

Two in the morning. The lock clicked at the front door.

They pushed through, deep in discussion, volume high.

Didn't care that I'd just fallen asleep.

"Callan, see? I told you the parameter had to be set my way. Nailed it first try."

Callan, refusing to be outdone, pinched Elara's cheek.

"You just got lucky."

He saw me come out of the bedroom.

He dropped his clothes on the floor. Casual.

"Sage, wash these for us."

"Make us some mac and cheese too. Elara's hungry."

Like he didn't care at all how the wedding had ended.

"I'm tired."

The words slipped out, cold. My first refusal.

Callan froze.

Elara slammed her shoulder into his and shot him a look.

"Idiot! Zero emotional IQ! Can't you see Sage is upset?"

"You blew her off today for the experiment. She's mad!"

She pinched Callan's chest and laughed.

"Okay, okay! I punished him for you. Stop being mad, bestie!"

Callan sucked in a breath and rubbed his temples, exhausted.

"Sage, we're tired enough from the lab. Can you not make this harder?"

"It's just a wedding. How could it possibly be more important than our research? Nobody but the bride even cares about that stuff."

"We'll do a better one. A do-over."

But this wasn't the first time. Not even close.

Two years ago. Our graduation trip, the three of us.

I waited for them at an airport in a foreign country for seven hours.

Callan finally told me they'd lost track of time on an experiment.

One year ago. The engagement dinner.

Elara pulled Callan away with one word about an equipment malfunction. I cleaned up alone.

Six months ago until now. I set up four trips to city hall for the marriage license. He stood me up every single time.

Every time, a last-minute text. Lab's tied up. Next time for sure.

And I didn't want to go to city hall alone—that would've been too pathetic. Like I was the only one who cared about this marriage.

In their world of research, everything about me was irrelevant.

"What do you mean, 'it's just a wedding'?"

Nobody even heard my question.

They were already back at their stack of papers, talking over each other.

Everyone envied me. My brilliant fiancé. My brilliant best friend.

But I really didn't want to be invisible anymore.

I pulled out my phone.

Resubmitted my résumé.

Booked a one-way ticket to Portland.