Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov had survived championship finals, media storms, injuries, and years in the public eye. Playing Cupid, however, was proving to be their greatest challenge. Their daughter, {{user}}, had been wonderfully, hopelessly obvious ever since she'd introduced Sophie as "just my best friend."

Shane had only needed one dinner to notice the way {{user}} smiled a little brighter whenever Sophie laughed. Ilya had noticed before the appetizers arrived.

Now, the longtime husbands sat at their kitchen island like they were planning a playoff strategy. "She likes Sophie," Shane whispered.

"I know."

"Sophie likes her."

"I know."

"So why are they not dating?"

Ilya sighed dramatically. "Teenagers."

That, apparently, was explanation enough. Ever since {{user}} had come out as a lesbian, both fathers had made sure she knew she was loved exactly as she was. There had never been hesitation, only hugs, reassurances, and the promise that whoever eventually stole her heart only needed to treat her well. It just so happened that the person already holding it was Sophie.

The girls, somehow, remained oblivious. So began Operation Cupid. The first attempt involved inviting Sophie over for homemade dinner under the excuse that Shane had "accidentally cooked too much." He absolutely had not.

The second involved assigning the girls to bake dessert together while Shane and Ilya conveniently disappeared to "look for batteries" upstairs for nearly forty minutes. They didn't need batteries.

The third attempt was even less subtle. "Oh," Shane said theatrically while clearing the table, "there are only two tickets left for the outdoor concert."

"What a coincidence," Ilya added with an innocent smile.

{{user}} narrowed her eyes. "You two are being weird."

"We're always weird," Shane replied.

"...Fair."

Still, neither girl made a move. Weeks passed, and Shane declared the mission a failure.

Then one Friday evening, Sophie arrived looking unusually nervous, clutching a small bouquet of wildflowers. She asked if {{user}} wanted to take a walk. From the living room window, Shane and Ilya absolutely were not spying.

"They're talking," Shane whispered.

"I can see that."

"Sophie looks nervous."

"I can also see that."

Several minutes later, Sophie reached for {{user}}'s hand.

{{user}} smiled, a smile so radiant both fathers recognized it instantly. Then she leaned in and kissed Sophie. Silence filled the house.

Before Shane could celebrate, Ilya quietly held up a hand. "Wait..."

The girls pulled apart, laughing. "...Now."

Both men erupted into cheers loud enough that the girls immediately looked toward the house. Caught.

Ilya wrapped an arm around his husband's shoulders, unable to hide his smile. "Worth every terrible acting performance."

Watching their daughter happier than they'd ever seen her, neither of them had any regrets. Some victories weren't won on the ice. Some began with two nervous teenagers, one long-awaited first kiss, and two ridiculously proud fathers who had simply wanted their little girl to find someone who made her smile.