"Cheers," Hagar echoed and dipped her lips into the glass. Hospitality like Nate's would've come in handy from a protector, but Hagar hadn't been able to sway the man into bed and she'd given up trying. He still called on her and his company – and the liquor – was free. No reason to start rocking the boat on account of paranoia.
Listening to Nate talk about getting even with the poor fools who decided to take him on fell well short of scaring her. She worried for a different reason. "Mind you don't get buried alive. Last thing I need is to start makin' nice with some of the other travelin' salesmen." Most of whom weren't half so reluctant about taking payment in flesh even Hagar offered other goods to trade.
"Trouble's a big word for what's been goin' on 'round here... Mostly it's just petty shit. Turns out Lot's screwing one of the girls." Hagar grimaced a little as she said it. "Not that it's uncommon, but he's bein' real obvious about it. And the chick's got massive anger management issues. She's gonna get us in hot with the Chets, mark my words. Lot ain't doin' shit about it 'cause he's too busy thinking with his dick." As men were wont to do around beautiful women. Hagar wondered sometimes if part of her dislike for Mustang had to do with jealousy; she'd never alighted on a definitive answer. "There's an also Enk chick started hangin' around: thought she might be itchin' to take Hope into the woods, but she's been leavin' me presents, so who the fuck knows what she's after. Lot's sure she's smitten with me –like I said, he's getting pussy and he thinks the need for lovin's universal. Poor fool."
Part of her wished she could bite back the words once they were out. Freeing as it was to rat out her people, there was always a tiny sliver of doubt about the wisdom of doing so.