The Score Chapter 10 Summary: New Sides of Dean and Allie

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Dean endures another verbal spar with Sabrina after International Relations, then heads to Hastings Elementary to coach the Hurricanes kids hockey team. He enjoys the practice, especially working with a talented seventh grader named Robbie. After practice, Dean volunteers to stay and help Robbie with extra ice time. He meets Robbie’s ten-year-old sister Dakota, who is struggling with a homework assignment about what she’s thankful for; Dean helps her brainstorm. Meanwhile, Allie rides with her friend Megan, who confesses she’s dating a thirty-seven-year-old divorced pediatric surgeon named Trevor and is nervous about meeting his daughter. They decide to join the hockey team’s birthday celebration at Malone’s. Dean spots Allie immediately and invites her and Megan to sit with the group. He teases Allie about tequila — the drink that led to their hookup — making her anxious that he might accidentally reveal their secret.

Key Events

Dean trades insults with Sabrina after class; he fires back about scoring higher on the LSAT.
Dean arrives at Hastings Elementary for his volunteer coaching gig with the Hurricanes.
He meets Coach Doug Ellis and learns the team structure.
Dean enjoys the practice and gives one-on-one tips to a boy named Robbie.
After practice, Robbie stays to skate while his mom works late; Dean offers to stay and help.
Dean meets Robbie’s younger sister Dakota, age ten, who is doing a Thanksgiving homework assignment.
Dean helps Dakota write a list of things she’s thankful for.
In the car, Megan reveals she is dating a thirty-seven-year-old pediatric surgeon with a five-year-old daughter.
Megan worries about meeting the daughter and the relationship’s future; Allie advises her.
Allie and Megan go to Malone’s for teammate Fitzy’s birthday.
Dean spots Allie at the bar and calls her and Megan over to join the booth.
Dean winks at Allie and teases her about preferring tequila, reminding her of their hookup.
Allie grows nervous that Dean might reveal their one-night stand in front of his friends.

Character Development

Dean: Shows a compassionate, patient side when coaching children, especially when he stays to help Robbie and genuinely engages with Dakota. This contrasts sharply with his usual cocky, womanizing reputation.
Allie: Remains cautious about Dean, but is also supportive of Megan’s dilemmas. Her nervous reaction to Dean’s tequila comment shows she is still protecting the secret of their hookup.
Megan: Reveals vulnerability and uncertainty about her age-gap relationship. Her decision to go to the bar suggests she is seeking distraction and social comfort.
Sabrina: Continues to view Dean as a spoiled rich idiot, refusing to give him credit for his academic achievements.
Dakota: A sharp, playful ten-year-old who challenges Dean and quickly warms to him, highlighting Dean’s hidden soft spot.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Perception vs. Reality: Dean’s volunteer coaching contradicts Sabrina’s and others’ assumptions that he is lazy or entitled. His genuine enjoyment and care for the kids reveal a deeper side.
Age and Maturity: Megan’s relationship with a much older man raises questions about readiness for serious commitments, while Dean’s easy rapport with children shows a different kind of maturity.
Hidden Vulnerabilities: Characters mask insecurities: Dean hides his academic sincerity behind a party persona; Allie hides her involvement with Dean; Megan hides her fears about her boyfriend.
Social Masks: The bar scene displays the “sausage fest” of hockey players joking and ribbing each other, while under the surface, private worries and secrets simmer.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter adds crucial depth to Dean’s character, proving he is more than a cocky playboy. His work with the Hurricanes earns him reader sympathy and highlights a genuine passion for hockey and mentoring. The parallel storyline with Megan’s relationship issues reinforces the book’s theme that people (including the hockey team) are not as simple as they appear. Finally, the bar scene raises the stakes for Dean and Allie’s secret, promising future drama.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Dean’s interaction with Dakota contrast with his usually cocky persona?
Dean drops his sarcastic guard and patiently helps a ten-year-old with her homework. He makes her laugh, treats her with respect, and shows he can be selfless and warm — a side that his frat-house reputation never suggests.

2. What does Megan’s dilemma reveal about her character?
Megan is torn between a mature, serious relationship and the desire to enjoy her last year of college freedom. Her secrecy about Trevor’s age and child suggests she is unsure how her friends will judge her, and she lacks confidence in her own choices.

3. Why is Allie nervous about Dean’s teasing in front of the hockey team?
Dean’s comment about tequila directly references the drink that fueled their one-night stand. Allie fears that his playful banter could escalate into a public reveal of their secret hookup, which would complicate her reputation and their current undefined relationship.