It's only after he's said the words that Tobias really registers what was on the screen at that moment, and by then it's too late to take it back.

She might ask why he said it. That might lead to why he even cared about small talk. And, well... one thing led to another, and with them, 'another', wasn't always much fun.

Tobias feels like he should say something else. Something to deflect or defuse, but he doesn't know what to say. And getting it wrong ill only make things worse.

So falls back on his old stand-by: silence.