[ He really and truly can't help but respond, more or less immediately, ]

Sorry.

[ Before he knows she isn't blaming him and he didn't do anything to her. He recognizes it the moment after he says it, and h thinks of things his therapist has said, and so hastens to correct himself - ]

I mean - I mean I get that, it makes sense.

[ That's not a great salvage, and so he frowns and, ] My therapist tells me to get better about the instant sorrys for things I didn't do it's just me guilting people in reverse.

[ There. It's more honesty ]