"Because I'm...not good with dates. Or seeing people. Or... anything like that. I think there's too much emphasis on it. Whenever there's a happy couple, one half of that couple wants to see anyone else they're attached to become attached themselves. He's hoping something will blossom from it, but look, you're miserable, I'm miserable, I can't make it up to you other than an attempt at very awkward small talk since I've already humiliated myself so it's... pointless. But I said I would try."

But it wasn't going very well.

"If you want, then you can sit there and talk and I'll listen because I'm good at that." Not so much feigning interest, but. "It won't be the best night out but the meal is on me." Somehow. "So there's that at least."