Final answer:
Nick and Eric are in the initiating stage of their relationship, which involves superficial interaction and getting to know each other's similarities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nick and Eric's relationship seems to be in the initial stages of development, characterized by small talk and learning about each other's similarities. This stage is often referred to as the initiating stage in various models of interpersonal communication. In this early phase, interactions are typically superficial and focus on sharing basic information, rather than deep emotional exchanges. Comparatively, in examples from literature and art such as Hopper's Nighthawks and stories of late-life romance, the characters experience deeper connections and missed opportunities for deeper engagement, which contrasts to the more surface-level interactions that define Nick and Eric's current relationship stage.