In The Score, Kennedy explores the complexities of modern relationships by contrasting Dean’s identity as a casual playboy with Allie’s history of serial monogamy. Through their evolving dynamic, the novel argues that a meaningful connection requires moving beyond prescribed labels and establishing genuine connection through mutual vulnerability. As Dean and Allie navigate their initial arrangement, the novel suggests that genuine intimacy is not an automatic outcome of sex, but a conscious choice that demands mutual support and emotional honesty.

Allie and Dean’s non-traditional path to love exposes the ways traditional relationship norms are prescribed along gendered lines. Allie’s internal conflict over her initial hookup with Dean centers on feelings of shame. Afterward, she spends “the entire day feeling like Hester fricking Prynne” her own “self-judgment […] far more scathing than anything that poor woman ever got from those Puritans […] The sex was incredible, but the shame it left [her] with isn’t worth the orgasms (47-48). Meanwhile, Dean, whose status as a star male athlete means he’s rewarded rather than shamed for his sexual behavior. When Allie tells him that what they did makes her feel slutty, he pushes back against the guilt she feels: “Stop slut-shaming yourself […] People should be able to have sex […] with however many partners they choose, and not get some shitty label slapped on them” (88). Allie’s response—“The label is there whether we like it or not”—pushes him to acknowledge the societal double standards that shame women for sexual promiscuity while celebrating it in men.

Dean’s encouragement to embrace sexual experiences outside of the boundaries a traditional romantic relationship forces Allie to grapple with her competing internal instincts. Her internal monologue takes the form of an argument that simultaneously reinforces and attempts to dismantle those prescriptive boundaries: “I’m such a slut. You’re not a slut. Okay, maybe I’m not. Maybe I’m just a twenty-two-year-old woman who had some no-strings fun for once in her life” (47). As their relationship progresses, Allie and Dean’s willingness to examine their own self-imposed labels lays the groundwork for a deeper romantic connection. Although they initially frame their connection as a secret, no-strings-attached fling, they instinctively drift toward monogamy and adjust the parameters of their situation accordingly through clear and open communication. By agreeing to an exclusive arrangement in which neither sleeps with anyone else, they blur the line between a hookup and a committed relationship—a compromise that highlights the difficulty of ascribing traditional relationship archetypes to their evolving connection.

Beyond their physical chemistry, Dean and Allie build a foundation of genuine intimacy through shared, mundane activities. Their relationship deepens significantly when Dean stays over to watch an obscure French soap opera that Allie’s using to learn the language. Though Dean initially mocks the show, he eventually becomes deeply invested in the plot, working alongside Allie to translate key words and understand the characters’ motivations. This willingness to engage in her interests reveals a disconnect between Dean’s playboy persona and his authentic self. Allie later admits to her roommate that Dean is an excellent listener and enjoyable company, ultimately acknowledging that her feelings extend beyond his physical appeal. These quiet, shared moments defy prescribed definitions of their connection as purely sexual or purely companionship, creating a more nuanced perspective.

Their eventual transition from a transactional sexual arrangement to a committed partnership occurs organically as a result of their developing emotional intimacy. When Allie experiences a crisis and requires emotional support, she instinctually turns to Dean, illustrating that true intimacy demands vulnerability. Dean’s fierce, protective response marks a turning point in his character as he immediately abandons his casual detachment and their commitment to secrecy to offer her genuine comfort. When Allie admits that the ambiguity of their fling is too confusing and painful for her to maintain, Dean decisively sheds his avoidance of commitment, telling her unequivocally that they are now a couple. By stepping up during her moment of crisis, Dean proves that he can be a reliable partner.

By discarding the restrictive labels that dictate their early interactions and choosing to be emotionally present for one another, Allie and Dean forge a resilient partnership. The Score asserts that lasting intimacy is built on a foundation of shared trust, proving that true connection is an active, ongoing choice to support a partner through life’s inevitable challenges.