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where Alan worked as a gardener. The group never believed that Alan was good enough for Dan. Connie reasoned with Sara that no one would match up to Dan. Sara didn’t agree, insisting he had compromised.
    When they were living together, they had seen compromise as the cardinal sin. Their life at university was predicated on the principle of never compromising over anything. Not sex, love, fun or friendship. They were dismissive of everything they believed wasn’t worthy of their efforts. Perhaps that was why they loved each other. Their friendship was representative of this time when only the big things mattered. The small things had yet to grind them down.
    â€˜Alan, it’s amazing isn’t it?’ She turned, conscious she didn’t make enough effort with him.
    He nodded, ‘Yeah.’ She waited for him to add more, but he didn’t.
    She sensed that, along with Sara, he was the most reluctant to be here. Then she caught Sara’s eye. She smiled broadly and stuck two thumbs up at Connie.
    Connie was elated by her reaction.

Chapter 4
    The sun was blistering behind a zigzag of soft peaked hills folding across the horizon. Gus had ‘parked’ bang in the middle of the track. No meter men, no traffic, Matt thought with a wry smile. Gus and Ben meticulously laid out a white pressed tablecloth over a small wooden foldaway table, twenty feet in front of the vehicle. Matt expected to be offered a warmish beer. Forget that. Out of a canvas holdall came half a dozen tall metal containers. They lunged for drinks, no longer self-conscious. They were all keen to process what they had seen, celebrate and savour it. Everyone had a slightly different take on seeing the lions: their proximity, the thrill, the fear. Cameras were out; photos shared; Lizzie insisted on replaying Julian’s video several times. They rapidly ate all the canapés: mozzarella and tomato balls on tiny cocktail sticks, and mini spicy meat kebabs.
    Katherine looked enthusiastically at the bottle of vodka. ‘Hey, Gus, I would love one more. Only a little vodka though, please.’
    Katherine gave her girlie smile that made Matt happy. Happy to be here, and above all, happy to be with Katherine enjoying herself after all the stress of the last few months.
    â€˜Oh yes please, Matt, same as Katherine,’ Lizzie smiled enthusiastically. ‘I can’t believe it: a full complimentary bar in the middle of nowhere. What about you, Alan?’ She linked arms with him. They seemed to have struck up an odd sort of bond.
    â€˜Lizzie, mine’s another large one. Same poison as you, love.’
    â€˜We’re like twins, aren’t we?’ added Lizzie enthusiastically.
    â€˜Too right,’ Alan grinned back.
    â€˜Is that gin?’ asked Connie.
    â€˜Mother’s ruin, Connie,’ mumbled Luke, as he grabbed a bottle of South African Castle lager and the bottle opener from the holdall.
    â€˜Luke, are you saying I look ruined?’ Connie eyed him.
    Matt was irritated. A classic Luke comment. He wasn’t aware of the effect of his words on their audience. Katherine insisted he lacked ‘emotional intelligence’ and that he only got away with it because he was handsome. She had met hundreds of Lukes in New York: socially stunted, Internet goofballs.
    Privately, Matt disagreed with Katherine. He believed Luke had never got over Connie splitting up with him.
    Lizzie started taking photos. Connie and Luke posed like storks on the roof of the vehicle, Lizzie and Alan wrapped their arms round each other and took a selfie in their sunglasses, while Sara twisted her head to glare coquettishly over one shoulder.
    Katherine moved decisively to stand beside Matt, the ends of her long hair touching his left shoulder. ‘Hon.’
    Matt wanted to stall her somehow. He had prevaricated about telling his friends and family for months. But Katherine had had enough. She wanted to share their news. He