Guys, why do you think he's careful not to touch me?

[lanternhill]

This barista guy seems to love hanging out at his work with me, teases me endlessly, seems jealous of other guys around me, seems protective of me and goes out of his way to help me, basically told me I'm one of the only people he enjoys talking to for a long period (he's an introvert), etc.
But he's very careful not to touch me. If I hand him something he's careful not to touch my hand. (He did high five me the other day and stuck a sticker on my arm.) today we were looking at a diagram and his fingers were millimeters from mine and he didn't move away but he didn't touch me either. It's like - he doesn't move away when he does accidentally touch me, but he doesn't try to either and in fact seems to avoid it. (as opposed to his coworker who got all smiling/laughing/nervous when he accidentally? touched my hand when reaching for a pen and sent the pen flying.)
I mean I get "strong silent type" but...
I also end up in close physical proximity to him sometimes and I can't tell if it makes him nervous or not. Like kind of but... again, not like his coworker.
Any ideas? I did semi friendzone him (long story but I am attracted to him) - maybe that has to do with it.

[serious]

He is either unsure about what you feel about him or he doesn't want you to get the wrong idea. You also said you did friend zone him so that gives him a clear signal not to touch you otherwise you'll get the wrong idea

[lanternhill]

He didn't touch me (much) before I friendzoned him... and by much I mean the one time he was looking at my coffee maker and reached too far and touched my fingers a bunch

[OlderAndWiser]

Didn't you answer your own question with the final sentence of your post?

[lanternhill]

The friendzone thing? He did this before too.

[Arjun234]

Maybe he's nervous to touch u cuz ull get the wrong idea. Anyways it's obvious he's attracted to u and the friendzoning will only make him want u more lol.

[lanternhill]

Hmm maybe - he did one time when he was taking a coffee maker from me - reached way more than necessary and touched my fingers a bunch. That was before I semi friendzoned him though.

[zinithin]

Maybe because he afraid of all the workplace sexual harassment bullshit?

[lanternhill]

Oh maybe - I'm a customer though?

[zinithin]

Inappropriate to touch your customers, if he reads you wrong, he could get in deep trouble and possibly lose his job.

[lanternhill]

Makes sense. Do you mind looking at this one? Thanks!
www.girlsaskguys.com/.../q1609145-my-crush-was-super-excited-to-meet-my-mom

[samsw]

why don't you just ask him out? even if he says no, you can still keep the nice relationship that you guys seem to have.

[lanternhill]

I can't and do you think he's avoiding physical contact because he's been semi friendzoned?

Also he's planning to leave soonish so maybe that has to do with it

[samsw]

why are you unable to ask him?
is he deffo leaving soon?

[ARWINGx1]

Yup, my guess is the same as the others: not wanting to risk that you'd get the wrong idea.

[Noxifer626]

Maybe he doesn't want you to think that he's a perv. Maybe he just doesn't like physical contact.

[lanternhill]

Fair and maybe I don't know I haven't noticed if it's just me