It's August, two years after her confession to Ryan, when out of the blue he invites her to vacation with him. They're sharing lunch in the office while waiting for a conference call to start, and Annie's taken off balance, because it's been so long since he's been anything but her boss.
Annie hesitates, thinking of how messy things already have been. Of how normal her life is finally becoming. Of how she can't stand the thought of hurting him.
It occurs to her then that she doesn't owe him anything, that everything he's offered her thus far has been unconditional and freely given. He'd made his feelings clear only once, and while his façade had cracked a few times in the hospital, he hasn't said a thing since. They're not quite equals, but he's obviously trying his hardest to treat her as though they are and to never cross the line.
"Where are we going?" she asks.
He smiles at her, his whole face lighting up with what is clearly genuine delight. "France."
