How does my T handle my empathy for him? I'm pretty sure he wonders where the hell it is & whether or not it actually exists.

One time I was still in social mode from work & returned his "How are you?" by asking him how he was. He replied that he hadn't had much of a chance to sit back and think about it. I responded "Ah. Busy day?" and he just sat and stared at me. Which annoyed me because I don't care for small talk to begin with.