I would take this gesture as simply as you can. It's a gesture. That shows he is willing to acknowledge his shortcomings - at least, somewhat - and that he does have some insight into himself. It shows that he can step up and apologize. It shows that he still has the ability to do things for other people, not just himself.
It's not a date, but did you expect a date at this point? It's might seem like a very small step, but it's still a step forward. Certainly not backward.
