by leBonhomme
Wouldn't you in such situations smirk? I would, and others would: talking about sex; hearing innuendos; in response to invitations to do something; and, and and.
Maybe the problem is that a day or more of interaction is compressed into half an hour's reading.
I think 'smirk' can often be sexy, erotic. If it fits the situation, let it go! Other words are much used, without our complaint: the, we, I, group ... In the story context,'smirk' implies humor based on shared awareness of a situation, often naughty or sexual. And these folks are certainly sexual!