Page 31 of Pucked On Camera

"Confidence," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. The confession shifts something in his gaze.

"Confidence?" Leland echoes, and I nod, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.

"Every time I turned on that camera... It was like stepping into a different world. A world where I wasn't just Amelia Brooks, locker room attendant with too many bills and not enoughtime. On OnlyFans, I was someone else—someone powerful and desired."

The admission tastes like freedom, bitter and sweet all at once. Leland watches me, his expression unreadable. I'm expecting judgment, but instead, there's a flicker of understanding.

"Powerful and desired," he repeats softly, and I can see him turning the idea over in his mind. "Didn't know you were looking for that."

"Yeah, it’s not like you know me all that well. We haven’t actually talked or hung out in a while," I confess. "There the feelings were though, every time I logged on. People wanted to see me. They paid to see me. Amelia Brooks… Not, Amelia Hutson, the sister of some up-and-coming hockey star."

"Amelia—" Leland starts, but I cut him off with a raised hand.

"Please," I say, "just let me have this one thing."

He nods slowly, the lines of his face softening. "Okay," he agrees, though it's clear he doesn't fully comprehend. I can only hope that he sees a glimpse of the sister who's been hiding from him all this time.

Whoever leaked my secret is still out there, and here I am, imprisoned in my apartment, while they are free.

Chapter 18

Riley

The realization of who Amelia's brother is, the very bane of my existence on the ice, plays on repeat in my head. The same guy who'd sooner throw down gloves than shake hands with me is kin to the woman who's been driving me crazy in every sense.

Amelia and him, twins? It's a twisted thing I didn’t see coming.

Practice is a blur today as I skate in tight circles, trying to wrap my head around this mess.

"Cap, you're zoning out, man." Jasper swipes the puck from under my stick, but I barely register the loss.

"Amelia's brother," I repeat, to no one in particular.

"Say what?" Another voice pipes up, confusion painting his tone. It's not their fault they're out of the loop, but I can't dive into this with them.

I need answers, fast. My mind races through the possibilities, each more disturbing than the last. Who would want to hurt Amelia like this? By releasing those photos, they didn't just invade her privacy—they dropped a bomb on her life. And if it was her brother, the implications would be dark.

"Hey, Coach!" I call out to the bench, slamming the door open with force. "I'll be back."

"Where’re you going?" Coach barks back.

"Got some personal stuff to sort out," I say, knowing full well it sounds like the worst kind of excuse.

"Make it quick, Watson. We don't have time for—"

But I'm already gone, out of the practice rink and walking down the hall.

I barely make it to the locker room, when Zach's figure blurs into view. His eyes are dodging mine, and I can tell something's off.

"Riley," he starts with a scratchy voice. "We need to talk."

"Spit it out," I say, my tone sharp.

"It's about Amelia's photos." Zach's words crash into me, sending my senses into a tailspin. "I was the one who leaked them."

Suddenly, I see red.

"Are you kidding me?" I lunge towards him before I can stop myself, gloves bunched in the fabric of his practice jersey. "What the hell were you thinking?"

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