"We barely ever even touch each other"
She thought about her own words. It was a quite descriptive way to say "we rarely touch", which would have been more appropriate given that there was people around. People included Booth. Barely ever even... It was a little strong. But she wasn't trying to stress it that much. It was, she rationalized, a proper way to say that they really didn't have those intimate touches that usually mean sexual relations between two people. She made her peace with that explanation.
Still, she looked for evidence for her statement, because you can only confirm things if you have proof.
She didn't press her body to his, like she did once upon a time with Sully.
They were always bumping into each other when crossing thresholds, but that was bumping, not technically touching. Just what came with trying to be in the same space at the same time, which is not possible, thus the bumping.
He sometimes placed his hand on the small of her back, but that was chivalrously. He did that when leading her in or out of places.
She'd grab his hand in occasions. Usually after he made a confession about his past, but not always.
She sat really close to him when he was troubled or angsty that's Angela's voice in my head.
He'd put one hand on her shoulder when he talked to her, leaning in, explaining something he thought she should have known.
Once, he had wrapped his arm around her neck and pull her close as they walked, she hadn't take it off, but she didn't either corresponded the gesture. She just smiled at his sign of concern.
She cried on his shoulder a few times. And during those times, he held her, he caressed her back. But that was comfort. Those were guy hugs.
He helped her with her coat, and then his fingers would brush her arms or shoulders. But that was the consequence of another action not meant to touch her.
When he wanted to take her out of a place because she was saying the wrong thing, he'd take her by the elbow. That didn't happen much.
They rested heads on shoulders for different reasons. But not often.
She would touched him when reaching for his gun or his handcuffs.
And once she had kissed him on the cheek, but that was a thank you. And they had kissed-kissed under mistletoe once, but that had been blackmail.
So, no, they didn't touch that much.
And the only reason she remember each of those touches was because she rarely touched people in general. She would shake hands if needed. She recalled that the last time she had hugged Anglea had been when she asked her to be her maid of honor. And Hodgins when they were... pretty much about to die. She had patted Zach's shoulder once. She had tried that on Booth, and she had tried the punch on the arm, to see if she got the dynamics. She didn't.
They did stared a lot. They talked in whispers, they talked as if they were alone when they weren't, they fought a lot, they stood close and they leaned in a lot. They glanced and gazed. They tilted their heads a lot, they smiled... they grinned and mocked and they smiled.... they raised eyebrows, they teased and they smiled... well, they smiled a lot, specially when they looked at each other.
She was right, they didn't touch much. Certainly not enough to be mistaken by a couple. Not that she had intend to stress it. Not that she minded either. But they barely-ever-even touched each other.