[He's sure he's made a mistake the moment she looks up. He's embarrassed her. He's confusing her. He's throwing her off this way and that and it's not even really helping, just making their walk together a whole other kind of awkward. But pulling away now would make it worse, wouldn't it? What if she thinks he's got some kind of an aversion to her? God, he's stupid.]

No. No, it's okay.

[He's the one who's sorry. It is not actually the worst date he's gone on with a client, but it's ranking up there just for him being an idiot. She stares at her shoes and he stares ahead so they don't just walk right past what they're looking for.

She likes his talking. Hell if he knows why.]

You seem to be doing fine to me. [She's stuttering, yeah, but she is in fact talking. He frowns.]

You're supposed to practice...? That... I'm sorry, this is going to sound rude, I'm really not supposed to ask this, but is that why...?