Bernie thought she'd heard her name being called. She turned around but there was nobody to be seen. Over the hill, a Bernese mountain dog raced into view. There, she could hear it again. She turned around to see who it was but still couldn't figure it out.

And suddenly, there she was, walking up the hill, red faced and panting. She wasn't imagining that. It was definitely Serena Campbell in a red coat. She called to the dog again and it ran back to her, bushy tail eagerly wagging. Sat on command and happily accepted a biscuit. Then it turned round and jumped all over Bernie.

'Bertie! Will you get off her!'

Ah. She was imagining things then.

With the aid of a biscuit, the dog reluctantly left her.

'I'm so sorry! She's a little too friendly.'

'That's ok. She's wonderfully soft and cuddly.' Bernie loved dogs.

'I love dogs too but they can embarrass sometimes, BERTIE STOP THAT.'

The dog had stuck her nose in Bernie's crotch. Bernie yelped with laughter and extracted her.

'Now if only I attracted more potential in my love life so easily as that' she joked.

'You said WHAT?'

Bernie buried her face in her hands. 'Can we not?'

'You told your massive lesbian crush that you wanted more pussy action?'

Fleur was delighted. This. Was. Epic.

'I didn't mean to!'

'You said it without thinking which means you were giving off signals. And that you have a hidden sense of humour. Can we have more of that please? I am taking you out on Friday night and no arguing.'

She could have died with mortification. Serena thought it was hilarious. She laughed for a long time.

'Don't we all?'

Bernie knew she was blushing.

'Why is she called Bertie?'

'My nephew's dog. He named her after some Norse thing. Bertilde. Bertie for short. It confuses everyone.'

'Oh. I thought…erm.' She looked down.

'What?'

'Well, I thought you were calling my name?'

'I never caught your name. You or your friend.'

'Fleur is her name.'

'And yours?' Serena was smiling at her in a dangerous way. Dangerous for her blood pressure.

'Bernie.'

'Short for…Bernadette?'

'Everyone thinks so. No, it's Berenice.'

'Berenice. My goodness, that's a name you don't forget.'

That tone of voice made her want to melt.

'Oh, she is so into you.'

'Stop it.'

They chatted for a while and Serena invited for her coffee if she had time. Bernie had time. Almost refused and knew that Serena could tell but she changed it to a yes at the last second.

'If you had said no, I would have strangled you and buried you in my back garden. Then wangled a date with her myself. You almost idiot.'

Bernie hadn't been on many dates in her life but this one was definitely the best.